NMMI Sports Press

A new era is set to begin for the New Mexico Military Institute Bronco tennis program this coming spring.

Orange, Va. native Nathaniel Horner was recently named head coach at NMMI.

Horner replaces Mitch Vechione who held the position for eight months before moving to Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kan.

A graduate of NCAA Division III Bridgewater College in Virginia, Horner helped guide the Eagles to an 8-11 overall record and a 6-4 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) mark during his senior campaign.

During his four years playing for head coach Jordan Robinson, Horner finished with 62 career singles wins. As a junior during the 2017-18 season, he finished 10-7 in singles play while going 9-6 in doubles play. His record of 12-1 in singles play as a sophomore earned him second team All-ODAC honors.

"I played there for four years and absolutely loved it," Horner said. "When I came in my freshman and sophomore year we were really strong. It was a solid program."

Graduating with a major in philosophy and religion, Horner began his coaching career at NCAA Division I University of Delaware where he served as a volunteer assistant for the men under current head coach Pablo Montana.

Horner also got the opportunity to assist the women's team in Delaware under former head coach Kelly Anderson.

"(The) program was really solid last year. I was under a strong core group of people," Horner said.

During that time, he was also coaching some of the best junior players in the middle states region of the United States Tennis Association while working for the Delcastle Tennis Center in Wilmington, Del.

Coming from a hard-working family with strong ties to public service – his mother is a third grade public school teacher and his father is a Virginia state trooper – Nathaniel plans on bringing a high level of dedication to the Bronco tennis program.

"This is the beginning of a new era here," he said. "The result will be just as good if not better than they have been in the past. That's what I'm excited about.

"I hope to transition that style and that level of dedication to the NMMI tennis program and continue the history of success here."

NMMI Athletic Director Jose Barron is excited to have Horner on board.

"We took our time and had a deliberate process to select not only a coach for NMMI but the right coach," he said. "We believe we have that. He's a got a good background as a player and he's ready to take on the assignment of leading our men's and women's tennis teams. I know he has well-laid plans and good ideas for how to continue to expand and promote the program."

 According to the update plan of action from the NJCAA, men's and women's tennis is slated to begin competition on Jan. 22.

Last season the Bronco women won three matches in a row before the season was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The men had notched their first win of the season over Southwestern Christian University on March 12.