Blake Hornbuckle
Head Soccer Coach
Phone: (985) 549-5185
Email:
bhornbuckle@selu.edu
Since taking over as head women's soccer coach in 1998,
Blake Hornbuckle has kept Southeastern at a model of consistency, not just in the Southland Conference but in the state of Louisiana.
A three-time Louisiana Coach of the Year and two-time Southland Conference Coach of the Year, as well as the school's all-time leader in victories with 116, Hornbuckle has guided Southeastern to a Southland Conference tournament title, four regular-season crowns and six SLC Tournament championship game appearances. Hornbuckle took over a program that had compiled a 15-40 record before his arrival and has helped Southeastern up their all-time mark to above the .500 mark at 131-113-21. Hornbuckle has a 116-73-21 record in 11 seasons as the Lady Lions head coach.
In the past eight seasons, the Lady Lions have won 84 matches, including a school-record 15 wins in 2003, when the Lady Lions earned their second straight Southland Conference regular season title and third in the last five seasons. After leading the 2003 squad to a 15-2-4 record and a undefeated 9-0-3 SLC mark, Hornbuckle was named LSWA Coach of the Year for a third time. Hornbuckle guided the Lady Lions to a 12-win season in 2002. In 2006, he was named SLC Coach of the Year, guiding the team to an 11-4-4 record and 5-0-3 league mark. The Lady Lions' 2006 league title was its fourth regular season championship in school history.
Hornbuckle's success has been evident on the field as he has produced 71 all-conference players, 44 All-Louisiana selections, three conference and three Louisiana players-of-the-year, five conference newcomer-of-the-year, five Louisiana newcomer-of-the-year and three SLC and state of Louisiana freshmen-of-the-year athletes. Among the players under his tutelage were CoSIDA/GTE Academic All-District selection Kim Kwolek, who was named the 1999 recipient of the F.L. McDonald Academic Scholarship, given to the female student-athlete in the Southland Conference with the highest grade point average.
In 2003, forward Kendra Oney became the first player in Southland Conference history to be named to the Soccer Buzz Magazine All-Central Region Team and was selected the SLC Player of the Year. In addition, midfielder Alexis Tramacchi was named the SLC Women's Soccer Student-Athlete of the Year. In 2006, Kari Yost was named both Southland Conference Player of the Year and Student-Athlete of the Year.
In his first season as head coach, Hornbuckle took the Lady Lions to the SLC Championship Game where they defeated host Stephen F. Austin, 1-0, to cap an 8-10-2 campaign. For his efforts, Hornbuckle was named the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year.
The 1999 squad posted a 7-2-3 mark in SLC games during the season and won the conference's regular-season title for the first time in school history. Along the way to 11 victories, Hornbuckle's crew ripped off a 13-game unbeaten streak (9-0-4), which was fifth-best in the nation, and finished with a final record of 11-4-5. For his leadership, Hornbuckle was named as the 1999 Coach of the Year by both the LSWA and the Southland Conference.
The Lady Lions continued their winning ways in 2000, establishing a school record for wins (13). Seven players earned All-Conference honors with Cory Cochrane earning Freshman of the Year honors by both the Southland Conference and LSWA, giving the Lady Lions three straight honorees by both organizations.
In 2001, Southeastern advanced to the SLC championship match for the fifth straight year. Senior Becca Weingartner became the school's all-time leader in points, goals and assists and became the first player to be named First team All-SLC four times.
The 2002 squad won the SLC regular season title and set school records for goals (58), goals per game (2.76), points (167) and assists (51). Hornbuckle's squad featured five All-SLC performers and three All-Louisiana selections, led by transfer Kim McNally. McNally rewrote the school and SLC record books on the way to earning SLC and Louisiana Newcomer of the Year honors.
Due to a rash of injuries and the loss of six starters in 2005, the Lady Lions suffered a 3-11-1 season. The Lady Lions bounced back to win the Southland Conference title in 2006, shutting out a school-record 11 opponents and allowing only two goals in conference play, while also rolling to a nine-match winning streak. In 2007, Southeastern posted another double-digit victory total, finishing 10-7-3 and advancing to the SLC semifinals behind SLC and Louisiana Newcomer of the Year Kristin McDonald. In 2008, the Lady Lions posted an 11-6-2 record and advanced to the Southland Tournament semifinals. Jenna Oney was named the Southland and LSWA Newcomer of the Year.
Prior to arriving in Hammond, Hornbuckle was an assistant coach at the College of Charleston, where he helped lead the Cougars to a berth in the 1996 NCAA National Tournament. At Charleston, Hornbuckle was responsible for a variety of aspects within the program, including fund raising and the Ralph Lundy Soccer Academy that served over 2,000 campers a year.
Hornbuckle began his coaching career at his alma mater, Maryville (Tenn.) College, by taking on the role of assistant coach for both the men's and women's programs from 1991-93.
He then moved to Brewton-Parker (Ga.) College in 1994 as an assistant for both the men’s and women’s teams.. He joined the staff at the Stone Mountain Youth Soccer Association in Georgia in 1995 and later that year, took over as head men's soccer coach at Sue Bennett College in London, Ky. He led SBC to its best record ever, 10-7-2, and a NAIA sectional playoff berth, along with an appearance in the Small College National Tournament.
Hornbuckle graduated from Maryville College in 1991 with a degree in Business Management. A star defender on the men's soccer team, he was named one of the school's Players of the 1990's in 2006. He went on to receive his Master's of Education degree in Administration and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) University in 1993.
Hornbuckle also served a three-year term on the NCAA Central Region Advisory Committee. In 2009, he was named as the NSCAA Central Region Chair for the All-America Committee.The Central Region encompasses the Southland Conference, Big XII, Conference USA and SWAC. He holds a United States Soccer Federation "A" License (USSF) and National Soccer Coaches' Association of America (NSCAA) diploma. Hornbuckle also owns a USSF Youth Soccer License and serves as a staff coach for the Mandeville Soccer Club.
Hornbuckle is married to the former Becky Bradburn, also a Southeastern employee. They welcomed their first child, Anna Grace, in December 2005 and reside in the greater Hammond area.
Return to Coaching Staff