July 20, 2000
HORTON NAMED NKU WOMEN’S TENNIS COACH
New head coach inherits two-time GLVC champion Norse
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky University athletic director Jane Meier announced Thursday that J. Webb Horton has been selected as the school’s women’s tennis head coach.
Horton arrives at NKU from Indiana-Purdue University at Fort Wayne, where he was the men’s and women’s tennis head coach. A year ago, Horton’s IPFW women’s tennis team posted a 16-5 overall record and tied for second place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference regular-season standings.
From 1982-88, Horton was the women’s tennis head coach at Saint Francis (Ind.) College, where he led the Lady Cougars to two NAIA District 18 state titles. He was selected NAIA District 18 Coach of the Year in 1985-86.
“J. Webb Horton has a great tennis background, and he has been very successful as a head coach,” Meier said. “He is familiar with the Great Lakes Valley Conference, having been at IPFW, and I look for our women’s tennis program to enjoy continued success under J. Webb Horton.”
Horton replaces Dave Bezold as the women’s tennis head coach. Bezold, who was named GLVC Coach of the Year the past two seasons, became a full-time assistant men’s basketball coach at NKU this summer.
“This was too good of an opportunity to pass up, and I am excited about working at Northern Kentucky University,” Horton said. “I have respected this team from afar while coaching against them at IPFW, and now I am going to have a chance to work with them as their coach.”
Horton will take over an NKU women’s tennis program that has captured two consecutive GLVC championships. The Norse have also advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament the past two seasons and feature two-time GLVC Player of the Year Jamie O’Hara, a junior who was 14-2 in 1999-2000.
NKU also welcomes back All-GLVC performers Lauren Spears, Amity Chapman and Claudia Ruehl to the lineup, as well as returning letterwinners Joceline McQueen and Christina Dausch. Freshman Elizabeth Brunsman is a talented recruit who should also be a major factor this season.
“We have some very talented players, and our first objective in the fall will be to defend our GLVC championship,” Horton said. “I think we can improve our level of play at doubles, and I’m looking forward to coaching this team.”
NKU, which posted a 14-4 record last season, has won 26 consecutive matches against GLVC opponents. The Norse have posted back-to-back 10-0 regular-season records in the GLVC, and captured two straight GLVC Tournament titles.