Professional soccer player returns to coach at Centre

RELEASED: August 30, 2007

DANVILLE, KY—Centre's men's soccer team can count a professional player among its ranks this year with the return of David Horne '07 as assistant coach. After graduation, Horne joined the Cincinnati Kings (United Soccer League Division Two) as a forward. There Horne met instant success: he played 18 out of 20 games, starting in five. He currently ranks No. 5 on the team for most points scored, with three goals and one assist.

For most athletes, this type of accomplishment would mean never looking back, but when offered a chance to help coach the Centre team of which he was once captain, Horne seized the opportunity.

"I’m excited that I can continue to be a part of something as special as Centre soccer," Horne says. "The team is like a family and the team spirit is phenomenal."

The team can look forward to new tactical and technical ideas, which Horne has brought with him from training with the Kings. He intends to continue his professional playing career and has found strong support from Jeb Burch, men's soccer head coach.

Horne is energetic about bringing new student athletes into the program. He says, "We encourage recruits to abandon their narrow focus on playing for a Division I program, think about the long term consequences of their college decision and explore what we have to offer at Centre."

The team looks forward to a strong 2007 season with 11 returning seniors, after finishing just outside of qualifying for the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2006.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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