Jim Horner - Baseball Coach - Texas Tech Red Raiders

Jim Horner

Title:
Baseball Assistant Coach

Photo Gallery Horner[apos]s last season with the Red Raiders was in 2012 Jim Horner spent two seasons as an assistant baseball coach at Texas Tech (2011-2012). Horner served as the program[apos]s hitting coach, worked with the team[apos]s catchers and was the Red Raiders third-base coach. Texas Tech ranked second in the Big 12 in batting in 2012 with a .292 average. The Red Raiders also ranked second in the Big 12 in slugging percentage (.418), second in doubles (117) and led the league and ranked 12th in the nation with 24 triples. The Red Raiders were the only team in the league to have three of the top 10 hitters in the Big 12 as second baseman Jamodrick McGruder (.358) ranked fourth, catcher Bo Altobelli (.346) ranked sixth and center fielder Barrett Barnes (.325) was 10th in the league in hitting. McGruder was named to three All-America teams - first time for a Red Raider since 2005 - and was named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, a first by a Red Raider in eight years. Texas Tech had a school-record nine Major League Baseball draft selections in 2012, including four position players with first-rounder Barrett Barnes leading the way with a 45th overall selection by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tech led the Big 12 and set a new school record with 11 Academic All-Big 12 selections, including a league-leading and school-record seven first team members. The Red Raiders won eight games against nationally-ranked opponents in 2012 - the most by the Red Raiders since 2009 when Tech claimed 11 wins over ranked foes. In Horner[apos]s first season with the team the Red Raiders ranked second in the Big 12 in walks (273) and on-base percentage (.382) while ranking fourth in batting average (.279) and stolen bases (91). Three Texas Tech position players were drafted in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft, including shortstop Kelby Tomlinson (12th round, San Francisco Giants), infielder Nick Popescu (33rd Round, Atlanta Braves) and third baseman Reid Redman (37th Round, Los Angeles Dodgers). Horner was named an assistant coach at Texas Tech on Aug. 3, 2010. Horner came to Texas Tech after spending two-plus years as the manager of the High Desert Mavericks, Seattle[apos]s Class-A Advanced affiliate. He left as the winningest manager in High Desert Mavericks[apos] history with a 194-182 record since becoming the club[apos]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 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[apos] 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 during his nine year 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[apos]s degree in criminal justice. Jim and his wife, Katie, have four children: daughters, Madison and Reagan, and sons, Jackson and Tyler.