Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Horton promoted to Men's Hockey interim head coach

Horton promoted to Men's Hockey interim head coach

MEQUON, Wis. -- Concordia Wisconsin Director of Athletics Dr. Rob Barnhill has announced that Bill Horton has been promoted to Men's Hockey interim head coach.

"I am pleased to announce that we have elevated Bill Horton to the position of interim head coach of our NCAA Men's Hockey program," Barnhill stated. "In talking with Coach Horton over the past few weeks, it became apparent to me, that he has earned the right to lead our team in this capacity at this time. At the conclusion of next season, I will reevaluate our program and we will name a permanent head coach. Coach Horton has done a great job of leading the recruitment efforts in this time of transition and we feel that we can put a highly competitive team on the ice next season. This opportunity provides our program with some continuity and allows him to compete for the permanent position while we administratively deal with navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the hiring process."
 
Horton completed his second season with the Men's Hockey program in 2019-20 and helped guide the Falcons to a five-win improvement from the 2018-19 season. During the 2019-20 campaign, the program broke numerous team records, including points per game (9.68), goals per game (3.60) and assists per game (6.08). They also added seven short-handed goals. Against Finlandia, the Falcons tied school records with nine goals and 16 assists. The eight different goal scorers in the game was a program record.
 
"I want to thank Dr. Barnhilll for the opportunity to take over the Men's Hockey program," Horton said. "I think we have a very strong incoming class for next season and things are looking upward for the 2020-21 season. My expectation is to return to the playoffs and I think teams are a direct reflection of their head coach and we'll be playing a tough brand of hockey. We are trending in the right direction and I know we had a down year two years ago, but with our incoming recruits and new leadership, the upcoming season has the makings of being something special."
 
Horton is the third head coach in the program's now 13 years of existence. The Falcons made four appearances in the NCHA's Harris Cup Playoffs and has eight victories over nationally-ranked teams, including a sweep of No. 1 St. Norbert in 2016-17. The program has also been ranked in the USCHO.com Top-15 Poll twice and received votes several times.
 
Horton was also the AAA Youth Hockey Director for the Utica Comets (AHL) in New York prior to coming to Concordia Wisconsin. He oversaw every aspect of the program from fitness, to player development and coaching. Before working for the Comets, Horton served as the Director of Scouting for the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL) from 2013-2017. While working for the Cougars, he owned and operated 'Primary Assist Hockey', a hockey training company in St. Paul, Minnesota. At Primary Assistant, Horton worked on and off the ice with Minnesota based WHL players, Minnesota high school other junior teams, NCAA and professionals.

He played junior hockey in Canada between Ontario and Quebec, playing in the 2006 Royal Bank Cup Championship. In 2008 he signed with the Flint Generals of the IHL and also played professionally in Finland and the Netherlands.