By Sean Gundry
South Carolina has named Darrin Horn its new men's basketball coach.
USC Athletics Director Eric Hyman and President Andrew Sorenson introduced Horn at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
"We want to compete for championships," said Horn. "We want to win...and we wan't to do it the right way."
Horn comes to Carolina from Western Kentucky, where he led the Hilltoppers to 111 wins over the last five years and a Sweet 16 appearance this season.
He replaces Dave Odom, who retired at the end of the season. Gamecock sports editor Alex Riley says USC got the right man to replace Odom.
"Horn is what the administration, what the fans have been clamoring for ever since Dave announced his retirement. He's a young, energetic guy who will hopefully be around for a long time."
Horn and USC reached agreement on a five-year deal, worth at least $800,000 per year in base salary and personal compensation. He can earn another $340,000 in bonuses and incentives per year as well. Horn's ability to attract new fans will be tied in also, as he can get $50,000 for each additional 1,000 season tickets sold beyond the previous year's total. If he can meet all of his incentives, Horn could make as much as $1.14 million a year.
Carolina News spoke with James Brandenburg, the sports director from WBKO-TV in Bowling Green, and he said that Horn's system, coupled with the players already in place at USC, looks to have a lot of potential.
"When you've got players like Devin Downey and Zam Frederick, and someone like Darrin who relies on his guards to make a lot of big plays, then I think he is set up to do great things at USC."
Horn is already busy working, as he has scheduled three in-state recruiting trips this week.
