Harold Horton

Harold Horton
Biographical details
Bornc. 1939
DeWitt, Arkansas, U.S.
Playing career
1959–1961Arkansas
Position(s)Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1962–1964Bald Knob HS (AR)
1965–1967Forrest City HS (AR)
1968Arkansas (freshmen)
1969–1976Arkansas (LB)
1977–1980Arkansas (DL)
1982–1989Central Arkansas
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1990–2000Arkansas Razorbacks (administrative football operations)
2001–2012Razorback Foundation (president)
Head coaching record
Overall74–12–5 (college)
41–18–5 (high school)
Tournaments6–5–2 (NAIA D-I playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 NAIA Division I (1984–1985)
7 AIC (1983–1989)
Awards
NAIA Division I Coach of the Year (1983)

Harold Horton (c. 1939) is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) from 1982 to 1989, compiling a record of 74–12–5 and winning back-to-back NAIA Division I Football National Championships, in 1984 and 1985. His UCA Bears teams also won seven straight Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) championships from 1983 to 1989.

Horton played college football at the University of Arkansas from 1959 to 1961 under head coach Frank Broyles, after graduating from DeWitt High School in DeWitt, Arkansas. He was a part of Razorback teams that won or shared Southwest Conference (SWC) championships in each of his three seasons, as well as winning the 1960 Gator Bowl.

He became the head football coach at Bald Knob High School in Bald Knob, Arkansas, and after three successful seasons he was hired as the head football coach at Forrest City High School in Forrest City, Arkansas. He returned to the University of Arkansas in 1968 as an assistant coach under Broyles until be took the head coaching job at UCA in 1982.[1][2]

Horton left UCA after the 1989 season and returned to the University of Arkansas in 1990 as an administrator for the athletics department and football operations. He was replaced as head football coach at UCA by his assistant, Mike Isom. From 2001 to 2012, he served as President of the Razorback Foundation.[3]

Horton is the father of Air Force Academy running backs coach and special teams coordinator Tim Horton, who also played for Arkansas as a wide receiver from 1986 to 1989, winning two SWC championships of his own in 1988 and 1989.[4]

Head coaching record

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College

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Central Arkansas Bears (Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference) (1982–1989)
1982 Central Arkansas 4–2–3 3–1–2 2nd
1983 Central Arkansas 11–1 6–0 1st L NAIA Division I Semifinal
1984 Central Arkansas 10–2–1 6–0 1st T NAIA Division I Championship
1985 Central Arkansas 10–2–1 6–1 T–1st T NAIA Division I Championship
1986 Central Arkansas 9–2 7–0 1st L NAIA Division I Quarterfinal
1987 Central Arkansas 11–1 6–0 1st L NAIA Division I Quarterfinal
1988 Central Arkansas 10–1 6–0 1st L NAIA Division I First Round
1989 Central Arkansas 9–1 5–1 T–1st
Central Arkansas: 74–12–5 45–3–2
Total: 74–12–5
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ "Harold Horton Joins UA Staff". The El Dorado Times. El Dorado, Arkansas. Associated Press. March 12, 1968. p. 2. Retrieved November 1, 2019 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  2. ^ "Harold Horton". Sports-Reference College Football. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  3. ^ "Harold Horton is Arkansas to the core".
  4. ^ "Harold Horton is an Arkansas icon but Family Trumps All". 247sports.com. Retrieved October 31, 2019.