San Diego State University Official Athletic Site

JEFF HORTON

Last Updated 8/15/12

Assistant Head Coach
(Running Backs)
Third Season

Hiring Release - 01/24/11

Recruiting Areas:
LA County North (Covina, Pasadena, SF Valley, Ventura, Santa Barbara), Nevada, Texas North (Ft. Worth, Dallas, Waco)

COACHING EXPERIENCE

With 24 years of collegiate coaching experience, including seven as a head coach, Jeff Horton begins his second season at San Diego State. Horton is the team's assistant head coach and also works with the Aztec running backs.

In 2011, tutored sophomore Ronnie Hillman to Associated Press All-America honors and he was one of 10 semifinalist spots for the Doak Walker Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top collegiate running back. Hillman rushed for a league-record 1,711 yards, which ranked him fourth nationally, as well as 19 touchdowns. This past April, he was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.

As a team, SDSU posted its most rushing yards (2,398) in 16 years and boasted its highest national ranking in rushing offense (30th) since 1999. The Aztecs also scored 28 rushing touchdowns and averaged 4.9 yards per carry, which was the best by an SDSU team in 16 seasons.

Came to The Mesa after spending the final five games of 2010 as the interim head coach at Minnesota. With Horton at the helm, the Gophers went 2-3 with victories over a pair of bowl-bound teams in Illinois and Iowa, after beginning the year with a 1-6 mark.

As the co-offensive coordinator, the Gophers saw drastic improvements from 2009 in the NCAA rankings in total offense (+34 spots), rushing offense (+26), passing offense (+18), scoring offense (+11), turnovers (+82), time of possession (+82) and penalties (+21).

Prior to his time at Minnesota, was the quarterbacks coach for the Detroit Lions in 2009, working with No. 1 overall Draft pick Matthew Stafford. Stafford started 10 games and threw for more than 2,000 yards.

Began his stint in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams from 2006-08, where he was the assistant offensive line coach, special assistant to the head coach and an offensive assistant.

Was on the sidelines in six bowl games as the quarterbacks coach at the University of Wisconsin from 1999-2005. The Badgers tallied four postseason victories, including a 17-9 win over Stanford in the 2000 Rose Bowl, after claiming the Big Ten championship.

Tutored Wisconsin signal-caller Brooks Bollinger to a combined 30-12 record over his four seasons as a starter. Both Bollinger and quarterback Jim Sorgi were selected in the NFL Draft during his stay in Madison.

The Arlington, Texas, native was the head coach at UNLV for five years. In 1994, he was named the Big West Coach of the Year after leading the Rebels to the conference title and a berth in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Compiled a 7-4 record at Nevada in his first season as a head coach in 1993. The Wolf Pack led the nation in offense that campaign, including 4,373 yards passing.

In addition, spent six years as a wide receivers, special teams or running backs coach at Nevada (1985-89, 1992) and two campaigns as an assistant head coach, running backs and wide receivers coach at UNLV (1990-91).

Started his collegiate coaching career in 1984 as a graduate assistant at Minnesota under head coach Lou Holtz.

PLAYING EXPERIENCE

Was a walk-on wide receiver at Arkansas from 1976-77.

EDUCATION

Graduated from Nevada in 1981 with his bachelor's degree and earned his master's from the University of San Francisco in 1993.

PERSONAL

Horton and his wife, Teri, reside in San Diego.

THE HORTON FILE
Hometown	Arlington, Texas
College	Nevada '81 - BA; USF '93 -MA
Email	jshorton@mail.sdsu.edu
Office #	619-594-4129

COACHING HISTORY
Year	Team	Position
2011	San Diego State	Assistant Head Coach, RB's
2010	Minnesota	Interim Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator, QB's
2009	Detroit Lions	Quarterbacks
2006-08	St. Louis Rams	Off. Line (06) / Special Assist./Off. (07-08)
1999-05	Wisconsin	Quarterbacks
1994-98	UNLV	Head Coach
1992-93	Nevada	WR's (92) / Head Coach (93)
1990-91	UNLV	Assistant Head Coach
1985-89	Nevada	Assistant Coach
1984	Minnesota	Graduate Assistant

COACHING LEDGER
Year	School	Title	Record
2011	San Diego State	Assist. Head Coach/RB's	8-5
2010	Minnesota	Assist. Coach / Interim HC	3-9
2009	Detroit Lions	Quarterbacks	2-14
2008	St. Louis Rams	Special Assist./Offense	2-14
2007	St. Louis Rams	Special Assist./Offense	3-13
2006	St. Louis Rams	Offensive Line	8-8
2005	Wisconsin	Quarterbacks	10-3
2004	Wisconsin	Quarterbacks	9-3
2003	Wisconsin	Quarterbacks	7-6
2002	Wisconsin	Quarterbacks	8-6
2001	Wisconsin	Quarterbacks	5-7
2000	Wisconsin	Quarterbacks	9-4
1999	Wisconsin	Quarterbacks	10-2
1998	UNLV	Head Coach	0-11
1997	UNLV	Head Coach	3-8
1996	UNLV	Head Coach	1-11
1995	UNLV	Head Coach	2-9
1994	UNLV	Head Coach	7-5
1993	Nevada	Head Coach	7-4
1992	Nevada	Wide Receivers	7-5
1991	UNLV	Assistant Head Coach	4-7
1990	UNLV	Assistant Head Coach	4-7
1989	Nevada	Assistant Coach	7-4
1988	Nevada	Assistant Coach	7-4
1987	Nevada	Assistant Coach	5-6
1986	Nevada	Assistant Coach	13-1
1985	Nevada	Assistant Coach	11-2
1984	Minnesota	Graduate Assistant	4-7

COACHING ACHIEVEMENTS
1994	UNLV	Big West Coach of the Year (Conference Title, Las Vegas Bowl)
2001, 2003	Wisconsin	Single-season passing records

NOTABLE PLAYERS COACHED BY HORTON
Name	Pos. (team)	Achievements
Matthew Stafford	QB (Detroit Lions)	Rookie starter - 2,000 yds and 53.3 completion percentage
Brooks Bollinger	QB (Wisconsin)	NFL draft pick; Compiled 30-12 record starting four seasons
Jim Sorgi	QB (Wisconsin)	NFL draft pick
Ronnie Hillman	RB (SDSU)	NFL draft pick; AP All-American

BOWL GAMES AS A COACH (9)
San Diego State
2011	New Orleans Bowl
Wisconsin
2005	Capital Bowl
2004	Outback Bowl
2003	Music City Bowl
2002	Alamo Bowl
2000	Sun Bowl
1999	Rose Bowl
UNLV
1994	Las Vegas Bowl
Nevada
1992	Las Vegas Bowl