FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech head baseball coach Dan Spencer announced the hiring of Jim Horner as an assistant coach Tuesday. Horner spent the previous four years as a manager in minor league baseball within the Seattle Mariners’ organization.
The hiring of Horner completes Spencer’s staff for the upcoming year. Spencer hired Jimmy Webster this summer as director of baseball operations. Horner will work primarily with the Red Raider hitters and catchers.
"We are excited to have someone with Jim’s experience join our program," Spencer said. "He has achieved success at the professional level as a manager and was a winner on the field for many years as a player."
Horner, 36, joins Texas Tech after managing the High Desert Mavericks, Seattle’s Class-A Advanced affiliate. He left as the winningest manager in High Desert Mavericks’ history with a 194-182 record, since becoming the club’s manager prior to the 2008 season. He led High Desert to an 83-57 overall record in 2009.
He was named California League Manager of the Year in 2009 after guiding the Mavericks to South Division first and second half titles and earning a spot in the championship series. Horner was also named the Seattle Mariners Staff Member of the Year.
Horner began his professional managerial career with the Class-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for two seasons before moving to High Desert. He began coaching in 2005 as the hitting coach with the short-season Everett AquaSox.
Horner joined the coaching ranks immediately after completing a nine-year professional playing career, all with the Mariners’ organization. He was a catcher in the Seattle farm system from 1996 to 2004. In 2000, Horner reached the Triple-A level with the Tacoma Rainiers. He was a Double-A All-Star with the San Antonio Missions in 2003 and collected the John Ellis Award for community service in 2000 as a member of the New Haven Ravens in the Eastern League.
He batted .259 with 116 doubles, six triples, 59 home runs and 298 RBI in his minor-league career.
Horner lettered four years at Washington State and was named All-Pac 10 Conference along with receiving all-academic honors while earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Horner replaces Ed Gustafson, who spent two seasons as the Red Raiders pitching coach.
