Western Kentucky's Darrin Horn set to become South Carolina basketball coach

3/31/2008 4:56 PM

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Western Kentucky coach Darrin Horn is leaving for South Carolina after the Hilltoppers best finish in the NCAA tournament in 15 years.

Horn told the school's president Monday he had accepted an offer from the Gamecocks to replace Dave Odom, who retired at the end of the season, Western Kentucky University spokesman Bob Edwards said.

South Carolina athletic officials did not confirm Horn's hiring, but university trustees plan to meet Tuesday morning to approve a new athletic contract. A news conference to announce a new coach for the Gamecocks has been scheduled for later in the afternoon.

Horn, 35, went 111-48 in five seasons at his alma mater. The Hilltoppers went 29-7 this season, winning the Sun Belt Conference title and advancing to the West Regional semifinals, where they lost to top-seeded UCLA 88-78.

It was Western Kentucky's best season since making it to the regional semifinals in 1993.

Horn has three years remaining on his contract, which includes a buyout of $157,000 per year for each year bought out, as well as a provision that would require Horn's new school to play four games against the Hilltoppers in the future.

Horn was an assistant at Western Kentucky, Morehead State and Marquette before becoming the Hilltoppers head coach in 2003, replacing Dennis Felton, who left for Georgia.

South Carolina went 14-18 this season, including a 5-11 mark in the Southeastern Conference.

The Gamecocks struggled in the Southeastern Conference under Odom, going 128-104 overall and 41-71 in the SEC in his seven seasons at the school.

South Carolina has made the NCAA tournament only once this decade, in 2004, and only four times since 1974.