HORTON TO THE CCCMBCA HALL OF FAME

To say Dieter Horton experienced success as a head coach at the community college level would be an understatement. 

At Antelope Valley College, he compiled a 94-46 record and led his 2007 team to the state championship game, the first for the college's men's basketball program. The Marauders went 31-7 that season, setting a school record for wins. Seven of his former Antelope Valley players received NCAA Division I scholarships.

In 10 years at Fullerton College, Horton posted a 198-124 record. The highlight came in 2006 when Fullerton went 37-0, becoming the second consecutive program to go undefeated, and just the fourth in the history of California community college men's basketball. The 37 wins tied Ventura's 1995 win total (37-1). Others to record the feat include Hall of Fame coach Jerry Tarkanian (1964, 35-0) at Riverside; Jim Newman (1970, 33-0) at Compton; and Vance Walberg (2005, 34-0) at Fresno. Horton would run his consecutive unbeaten streak to 50 before losing.  

He reached the post season in each of his 14 years as a community college head coach

He was selected the conference Coach of the Year three times and was the 2006 State Coach of the Year. Thirty-five of his Fullerton players signed with NCAA Division I programs and another 18 signed with either a Division II or NAIA program. In 2011, he was recognized by Basketball Times Magazine as one of the best future NCAA Division I Head Coaches in America.

Horton would go to serve as an assistant at USC for four season and as the head coach at California State University, Los Angeles. He was regarded as one of the elite recruiters with a strong defensive mind. In his first year at Cal State LA, the Golden Eagles ranked 14th in the country in scoring defense (62.9 points per game). The team was among the national leaders in field goal percentage defense and allowed opponents to shoot just 41.7 percent from the floor.

Horton coached a pair of National Basketball Association players – Dewayne Dedmon, while at Antelope Valley College and USC, and Nikola Vucevic, the 16th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, out of USC. 

Horton graduated from Fullerton High, where he played basketball for three years, and then California State University, Fullerton in 1994 with a degree in physical education. He served two years as the student manager for the Titans' basketball team and another as the program's administrative assistant. He received his Master's in Education from Azusa Pacific. 

Horton is married to Chelsie and they have a son, Charles, and a daughter, Ellie.

Story by Robert Schmidt, CCCMBCA SID