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Randy Horner

Paws Up Podcast - Episode 24 Feat. Randy Horner

Randy Horner enters his 16th season as head coach of the Panthers swimming & diving program. He has coached the Panthers to eight-consecutive CUSA Championship titles (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022) and led FIU to it's first American Athletic Conference Championship in 2024 in just their second season as an affiliate member.
 
In the 2024–25 season, Horner led FIU to a second-place finish at the 2025 American Athletic Conference (AAC) Championships, finishing just 1.5 points shy of first place. The Panthers captured a meet-high seven gold medals. Nicole Frank was named AAC Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet after winning three individual golds, marking the second consecutive year an FIU swimmer earned the honor.
 
FIU extended its dominance on the national stage by sending Emma Becker to the NCAA Championships for the program’s 14th straight appearance—the longest active streak among mid-major programs. The Panthers also broke two school and AAC records: Becker in the 100 breaststroke and the quartet of Oumy Diop, Diana Santamaria, Jessica Shpilko, and Frida Stretre Løbersli in the 200 medley relay.
 
Seven Panthers earned AAC Swimmer or Diver of the Week honors throughout the season, while 11 student-athletes were named to the All-AAC Team.

Since joining the Panthers in 2010, Horner has elevated the program to unprecedented levels of success. Under his leadership, the team has produced nine Conference Swimmers of the Year and six Conference Divers of the Year. Notably, Horner coached Naomi Ruele at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics and guided Elinah Philip and Maha Gouda at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. In 2024, he coached Olympians Nicole Frank and Oumy Diop, as well as Paralympian Gia Pergolini at the Paris Summer Olympics.
 
Over the Years:
In 2023-2024, FIU secured their ninth conference championship in ten seasons under the tutelage of Horner. The Panthers earned 778.5 points with 18 medals leading the championships with seven golds. Horner helped guide senior swimmer Christie Chue to an Most Outstanding Swimmer of the meet award at the AAC Championships, securing five golds including posting a meet record in the 200 breast and program record in the 200 IM. In addition, Horner earned the Coach of the Year honors for his efforts. Horner coached senior Chue and diver graduate student Paige Burrell to a 13th-straight NCAA Championship, the longest active streak among mid-major programs. In addition, FIU captured eight American Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week honors with , FIU captured eight American Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week honors with Chue being named Swimmer of the Week four times, while Burrell was named twice. Ruska Lehtonen earned the diver of the week honors on (Oct. 3 and Feb. 13). FIU finished first in seven meets.

In 2022-23, the Panthers joined the AAC and made an instant impact. In the regular season, FIU captured seven Athlete of the Week honors with Christie Chue taking Swimmer three times and Maha Gouda taking Diver four times. At the program's first The American Championships, Horner led FIU to a second-place finish, just 11.5 points out of first. The Panthers took home more golds than any team at the conference championship with eight, set a conference record in team points in diving with 300.10, with Gouda also setting a conference record posting a 296.10. Horner also helped FIU qualify for a 12th-striaght NCAA Championships, the longest current streak of any mid-major program. Chue and Gouda both earned All-American status at the NCAA Championships, joining a long list of athletes to earn the honor under Horner.

In 2021-22, the Panthers picked up their eighth-consecutive conference title. FIU scored a program-best 1,131.5 points in the victory and took home the Swimmer of the Meet Award and Diver of the Meet Award. Diving Coach Nick Yang was named Diving Coach of the Year for a third time and Horner was named Coach of the Year for a seventh time. FIU finished second at the CSCAA National Invitational. Horner coached freshman Christie Chue and senior Maha Gouda at the NCAA Championships, where Chue earned NCAA All-American Honorable Mention. The Panthers finished with a 6-1 record in dual meets 

In 2020-21, the Panthers earned their seventh-consecutive conference, a record for any program in school history. FIU registered 956.5 points for the crown and once again won Swimmer of the Meet and Diver of the Meet. Diving Coach Nick Yang was named Diving Coach of the Year and Horner was once again named Coach of the Year. In a COVID-shortened season, FIU finished first in five of its six meets.

In 2019-20, the Panthers picked up their sixth-consecutive conference title becoming the C-USA all-time leader for most consecutive conferences titles. FIU registered 1044.5 points for the win, breaking their own points total record. The Panthers took home the Swimmer of the Meet Award, Diver of the Meet Award, Diving Coach Nick Yang was named Diving Coach of the Year and Coach Horner was named Coach of the Year. The Panthers finished 8-3 overall and ended the season on a four-meet winning streak.

In 2018-19, the Panthers picked up their fifth-consecutive conference title tying the league high. FIU registered 935.5 points for the crown and took home the Swimmer of the Meet Award, Diver of the Meet Award and Diving Coach Rio Ramirez was named Diving Coach of the Year. FIU finished third at the CSCAA National Invitational in Cleveland. In her first year as a Panther Maha Gouda became the first ever Freshman All-American after placing 8th at the NCAA Championships in Platform Diving. Horner coached Naomi Ruele through her fourth and final NCAA run where she broke the FIU record in the 100 Backstroke when she touched at 52.42. Senior Oceane Peretti captured her second Swim Around Key West title and broke an FIU record at the conference championship meet in the 1650 Freestyle when she clocked in at 16:22.73 in addition to setting a new FIU Record in the 1000 yard freestyle in the same swim. The Panthers finished 7-3 overall and ended the season on a six meet winning streak.
 
In 2017-18, FIU picked up its fourth-straight conference title dominating in fashion following a championship-record 1,031 points at the league event. The Panthers swept the C-USA Swimming and Diving awards voted on by the league’s coaches. Junior Naomi Ruele was named C-USA Swimmer of the meet and Senior Rebecca Quesnel was named C-USA Diver of the meet. The Panthers captured their first College Swimming Coaches Association of American (CSCAA) National Invitational Championship title for the first time in program history. Horner and the swim program secured two net victories and went 8-4 in dual matches. Horner picked up his fifth C-USA coach of the year title along side Diving Coach Rio Ramirez taking home the Diving Coach of the Year title.
 
In 2016-17, the Panther squad broke nine school records at Conference USA Championships and claimed the crown for the third-straight season. Registering 15 first-place finishes and tallying 40 all-conference honors, Horner and FIU experienced another triumphant year in the pool. They totaled 922.5 points at the championship, the fourth-highest score in C-USA history. The swim and dive team made a historic performance at the NCAA Championships when a record high of six student-athletes qualified for the Swimming and Diving Championship. The 400 Freestyle Relay team of Letiza Bertelli, Naomi Ruele, Carita Luukkanen and Jennifer Deist broke a school record in the 400 Relay time trial (3:15.23), which qualified them for the NCAA berth. Letizia Bertelli was named C-USA Swimmer of the Year while Rebecca Quesnel was named Diver of the Year. FIU completed the year 10-3 overall and Horner was named C-USA coach of the Year for the fourth time.
 
In 2015-16 Horner guided FIU to its second-straight conference title, scoring the second-most points in Conference USA Championship history. The Panthers claimed 15 of the 21 total titles during the four-day championships en route to a 954-point result – the most-decisive victory in C-USA Championships history. In all, FIU won 28 medals, including 15 gold, while setting seven school records as Horner was named the C-USA Coach of the Year – his third such award since coming to FIU. In her first year at FIU, Ruele racked up several superlatives - Swimmer of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Swimmer of the Meet. Diver Rebecca Quesnel was named Diver of the Year and Diver of the Meet at Conference Championships. The Ruele-Quesnel duo went on the represent the Panthers at the NCAA tournament. Ruele ended post-season competition placing 41st in the 50 Freestyle event and from the platform, Quesnel checked in at number 38. 

In 2014-15 FIU athletics history was made when Horner and the Panthers were crowned C-USA Champions. The Panthers picked up 765 points over the four days of competition, scoring 103.5 points better than runner-up Rice (661.5). The conference title gave the Panther swimming and diving team its first ever league championship, since the program started in 2003. The Panthers swept the dual match season 10-0. Horner picked up his fist C-USA Swim Coach of the Year award. The Blue and Gold also represented at the NCAA Championships, senior Johanna Gustafsdottir  took part in the 200 and 400 IM event as well as the 200 breaststroke while freshman Silvia Scalia participated in the 100 and 200 backstroke as well as the 200 IM. 
 
In 2013-14 Horner’s program became a highlight for the University, earning a second-place finish at the 2014 C-USA Championships. The Panthers swept the Conference Swimmer and Diver of the Year awards, as Sonia Perez was named C-USA Swimmer of the Year and Sabrina Beaupre was named C-USA Diver of the Year. The Panthers earned two dual meet victories over Florida Atlantic during the 2013-14 campaign as well, the win on Oct. 5th, marked the largest margin of victory over the Owls in school history. FIU earned its first-ever victory over a BCS conference opponent, downing Georgia Tech on December 19, 2013. The Panthers finished the dual meet season with a record of 6-1 and closed out the season setting 11 new FIU records along with three new C-USA records. Perez became the first Panther to reach the NCAA Championship final. Diving coach Rio Ramirez was named C-USA Diving Coach of the Year.

In 2012-13, at the helm of the Panthers swim program, FIU tied for a league-high six first-team, all-conference selections and had two third team selections. The Panthers finished a program’s best third at the Sun Belt Conference Championships with 711.5 team points.  Made our 2nd consecutive NCAA Championship appearance. 

In 2011-12, the Panthers were recognized by College Swimming & Diving as one of eight female breakout teams for their 2012 Sun Belt Conference Championship performance where FIU swept all the conference swimmer, diver and coaches of the year awards. During the season, the Panthers collectively broke 10 program records, four Sun Belt Conference records, claimed five Sun Belt championships in addition to having nine medalists and 13 finalists in the SBC Championships.

In the 2011-12 season, Gustafsdottir was named a Mid-Major All-American byCollegeSwimming.com. Gustafsdottir won three individual Sun Belt titles (200 IM, 200 freestyle and 200 backstroke) at the conference championships in February while competing in the NCAA Championships as a freshman. Additionally, Perez was named an Honorable Mention All-American.

In 2010-11, Horner's first season at FIU, the Panthers shattered 11 program records and Sabrina Beaupre was named the Sun Belt Conference Diver of the Year after winning conference championships in the 1-meter and 3-meter dives. The Panthers continued their stellar academics as they were named a Scholar All-America Team by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). With their 3.26 team grade point average, the Panthers had the second-best GPA of any Sun Belt Conference team and third best among Florida teams. In his first full season of recruiting, Horner produced the No. 23 recruiting class in the nation according to collegeswimming.com.

Prior to FIU:
Horner was head coach at New Orleans, Horner restarted the men's swimming and diving program in 1992 and led the return of swimming and diving to the Lakefront Aquatic Center after the facility was shut down in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Horner was recognized in New Orleans-based magazine, Gambit Weekly, "40 under 40", which featured community members for their efforts in rebuilding a positive New Orleans. In addition to his outstanding community involvement, The UNO men’s team broke all 18 school records from 2008-10 left from the previous era of the swimming program. The women's program also broke all 18 school records during the Horner era, including 17 by Horner's own recruits.

As an assistant swimming coach at Missouri State (1998-2005), Horner coached 2004 Olympians Raichin Anotonov and Jackie Wellman as well as helped lead the Bears to four consecutive conference Championships.

Horner is a member of the College Swimming Coaches Association, the American Swimming Coaches Association and United States Swimming. He is an avid runner and likes to participate in triathlons, as Horner was an Ironman finisher in 2002. Additionally, Horner enjoys scuba diving, golf and running in his free time.

A native of  Canton Missouri, Horner earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Missouri State University in 1994.  Horner swam for the Missouri State Bears and served as a student assistant coach in 1994. 
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