Horton inducted into Tulane Hall of Fame

JT Horton, University of North Georgia (UNG) Athletics director of development, has been inducted into the Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame. He goes into the Hall of Fame through the induction of the 2008-09 women's golf team for which he served as head coach.

The Tulane women's golf program was reinstated after three years following Hurricane Katrina and won the 2009 Conference USA championship by 23 strokes. Then, his Green Wave team went on to finish fifth at the NCAA East Regional and 20th at the NCAA National Championship.

Horton earned Conference USA Coach of the Year honors and also had players receive Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Freshman of the Year recognition for the 2008-09 season. The group won two tournaments and finished second in two other events.

"To be inducted into the Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame is an extraordinary honor. It celebrates a truly special team that achieved incredible things during an unprecedented time for Green Wave Athletics," Horton said. "My years as a college coach profoundly shaped me, and I am grateful for the blessing of being able to share this moment with so many people."

He was head coach at Tulane for four seasons.

Linn Atiyeh, a native of Sweden who was a member of the 2008-09 women's golf team at Tulane, said Horton brought out the best in the team.

"His belief in us, both as athletes and as people, created a culture where we wanted to give our absolute best every single day," Atiyeh said. "He motivated us by showing us that hard work, discipline and teamwork could take us further than we ever imagined."

Atiyeh still sees the impact of her time at Tulane with Horton more than a decade later.

"The best part was the trust and respect he showed us. He cared about us as individuals, not just as players," she said. "For me, as an international student-athlete, that meant so much. He helped me grow not only in my sport. Playing for him helped me grow as an individual, and I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity."

Horton was also the inaugural head women’s golf coach at Clemson from 2011-2016.

In his current role with UNG, Horton elevates Nighthawk athletics through strategic donor engagement and external fundraising initiatives.