University of Arkansas head baseball coach Dave Van Horn has signed a contract extension that will keep him with the Razorbacks through the 2031 season. The new agreement, which replaces a 10-year deal signed in 2021, increases Van Horn's annual salary to $2.1 million and includes bonuses for achieving milestones such as winning a Men’s College World Series championship and fulfilling the full term of the contract.
"Over the past 24 seasons, Coach Van Horn has built and sustained one of the premier baseball programs in the country," said Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek in a statement. "He embodies Razorback Baseball, and this new contract is a well-deserved recognition of his extraordinary leadership and success."
Van Horn, who will begin his 25th season as Arkansas’ head coach in 2027, has achieved longstanding success at his alma mater since taking the position in 2003. During his tenure, the Razorbacks have earned eight College World Series appearances, including a runner-up finish in 2018 and five top-five finishes. The program has also made 22 NCAA Tournament appearances, clinched three SEC regular-season titles, one SEC Tournament championship, and eight SEC Western Division crowns.
Under Van Horn's leadership, Arkansas has produced 43 All-Americans, 59 All-SEC selections, and 167 MLB draft picks, including a program-record 12 players in 2026. His career record at Arkansas stands at 974 wins, including 390 in SEC play. Across his coaching career, spanning his time at both four-year institutions and Texarkana Community College, Van Horn has amassed 1,559 victories, the most among active Division I head coaches.
"All I ever wanted to do was coach at Arkansas, and I’m thankful to continue leading my alma mater for many more years to come," Van Horn said. He expressed his gratitude to the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, Chancellor Charles Robinson, and the Athletic Department for their support of the baseball program.
Van Horn’s achievements have been widely recognized. He was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2019, the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor in 2024, and is set to join the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as part of the 2027 class. He and former Arkansas coach Norm DeBriyn are the only two individuals to coach the Razorbacks since 1970, collectively leading the program to 2,135 victories and 12 College World Series appearances.
The contract extension reaffirms Van Horn’s pivotal role in maintaining Arkansas as one of the nation’s elite college baseball programs.