EUGENE, Ore. – The University of Oregon athletic department and head baseball coach George Horton announced today that, by mutual agreement, the one-year contract option through the 2020 season for Horton will not be exercised.
“On behalf of the University of Oregon, I want to thank George for leading Oregon baseball with distinction for the last 11 seasons and for laying the foundation for future success,” said Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens. “George had a positive impact on both our baseball student-athletes and on the University itself, and this sure-fire Hall of Famer has been a tremendous ambassador for the school and for the game of baseball. We wish him and his family all of the best moving forward.”
“With much thought and deliberation with my family, I feel it is the right time for me to step away as the head baseball coach at the University of Oregon,” said Horton. “My time in Eugene will always be cherished, and I will forever be a Duck. I am very thankful for the opportunity that was given to me by the University to start this program from scratch. I wish my successor, the current student-athletes, fans and administration nothing but the best moving forward. I look forward to being able to spend more time with my family in Southern California and to new opportunities and challenges.”
Horton finishes with a 373-278-1 record (.573) in 11 seasons as the head coach of the Ducks. He was hired in September 2007 to resurrect an Oregon baseball program that had been dormant since it was dropped following the conclusion of the 1981 season, and the Ducks returned to the diamond under Horton in 2009. He led the Ducks to five Regionals, one Super Regional, and four 40-win seasons, including a school-record 48 wins in 2013.
A total of 84 Oregon baseball players earned degrees during Horton’s tenure. The Ducks also produced 48 players who were selected in the Major League Draft during this time frame, including a pair of left-handed pitchers drafted in the first round, Tyler Anderson by Colorado in 2011 and David Peterson in 2017 by the New York Mets. Seven Oregon players earned a total of 20 All-America honors under Horton.
In 28 years as a collegiate head coach, Horton has a record of 1,089-543-2 (.667), including six years as the head coach at Cerritos College (1985-90). He took six teams to the College World Series with Cal State Fullerton from 1997-2007, with the Titans winning the national championship in 2004. Horton is one of 17 people to have appeared in Omaha as both a player (1975 with his alma mater, Cal State Fullerton) and as a coach.
A search is underway for the new head coach for the Oregon baseball program, and associate head coach Jay Uhlman will assume responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the program until a new head coach is named.
