Arkansas rewards its winningest coach with a deal through 2031

Dave Van Horn has stood as one of the most successful coaches in Razorback athletics history, and Arkansas just made sure he’ll stay put for years to come.

The legendary baseball coach signed a new agreement that keeps him leading the Hogs through the 2031 season, replacing the 10-year deal he signed back in 2021.

The new contract bumps Van Horn’s annual pay to $2.1 million and adds bonuses if he wins a Men’s College World Series title or simply sees the deal through to its final year.

Athletic director Hunter Yurachek explained why the school moved to extend one of its most successful coaches.

“Over the past 24 seasons Coach Van Horn has built and sustained one of the premier baseball programs in the country,” Yurachek said. “He embodies Razorback Baseball and this new contract is a well-deserved recognition of his extraordinary leadership and success.”

Got here where he always wanted to be

Van Horn came back to coach his alma mater in 2003, and the 2027 season will be his 25th leading the Hogs.

Since he returned to Fayetteville, Arkansas baseball has reached eight College World Series trips, including a runner-up finish in 2018.

The Razorbacks have made 22 NCAA Tournaments under his watch and claimed three SEC regular-season titles. They also had an SEC Tournament championship in 2021.

For Van Horn, the extension is personal.

“All I ever wanted to do was coach at Arkansas and I’m thankful to continue leading my alma mater for many more years to come,” he said. “I’m extremely proud of what our coaching staff and players have accomplished up to this point and I’m excited for our program’s future as we work hard to bring a national championship to the most loyal fans in the country.”

Record put together over decades

Arkansas’ win total under Van Horn now sits at 974 overall, with 390 of those coming in SEC play.

Three Razorbacks have won the Golden Spikes Award on his watch. Andrew Benintendi did in 2015, Kevin Kopps in 2021 and Wehiwa Aloy in 2025.

Add in 43 All-Americans and 167 MLB draft picks, including a program-record 12 players drafted in 2026. Yt’s clear why the university wanted him locked in long-term.

The honors keep stacking up too. Van Horn is already in the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor, and he was recently tabbed for induction into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as part of the 2027 class.

Since 1970, Arkansas has had just two baseball coaches. Van Horn and the late Norm DeBriyn have combined to lead the program for 57 seasons and counting. They piled up 2,135 wins between them.

Key takeaways

• Van Horn’s new deal runs through 2031 and raises his salary to $2.1 million with bonuses tied to a title
• Since 2003 he’s built Arkansas into an eight-time College World Series program with 974 wins
• He’s headed for the ABCA Hall of Fame as part of the 2027 induction class