Horne introduced as FAMU AD

FAMU President James Ammons, yesterday afternoon, introduced Derek Horne as the University's new athletic director just moments after Trustees ratified a three year contract for Horne which will pay him $200,000 a year. Horne has spent the past 14 years at the University of Mississippi where he served as a senior associate athletic director. He is expected to begin work on Tuesday, September 7th.

Ammons praised Horne for his strong background in athletic management and fundraising. "Derek has a wide-range of experiences at the University of Mississippi and in the SEC, a conference that is a football powerhouse," Ammons said. "He has the potential to help us usher in a new era of Rattler sports."

"I'm humbled and honored to stand before you as the next director of athletics at Florida A&M University," Horne said. "Of all the places in the world this day, I can't think of another place I'd rather be."

My ultimate goal was to be an athletics director -- and to be an athletics director at a Division I institution," Horne said. "I have been very selective in locating an institution to commit to because it is a commitment, not just for me but for my family.

"In visiting with Dr. Ammons and seeing the support here, this is a no-brainer. It's a quality institution that has great tradition."
"First and foremost, I need to assess this environment and the resources we have," Horne said.

"My first role will be to assess where we are to identify our resources and maximize them," said Horne. "Sure there are some challenges financially, not just with Florida A&M University but across the country. "