ITHACA, N.Y. —
Dwight Hornibrook has been named the head coach of women's soccer at Cornell, it was announced today by
Andy Noel, the Meakem*Smith Director of Athletics and Physical Education. Hornibrook has served as an assistant coach for the Big Red for the past five seasons and most recently was the program's interim head coach.
In his stint as an assistant, the Big Red accumulated 30 wins over a five-year span for the first time since 2002-06. Cornell's nine wins in 2015 were the most by the program since 2002, and the team's 8-0-3 start to the season was the best in program history. Hornibrook helped guide the team to a remarkable shutout streak of more than 1,059 minutes and helped mold the Big Red's first All-Ivy first-team selections since 1995 in midfielder
Elizabeth Crowell '17 and goalkeeper
Kelsey Tierney '17. This is Hornibrook's second stint at Cornell, as he also served as an assistant coach with the men's soccer program in spring of 2004.
In between stints on East Hill, Hornibrook served as the head coach of men's soccer at SUNY Cortland for eight seasons, helping the Red Dragons to a final national ranking of 17th after advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament and winning their first SUNYAC tournament in 2008. Hornibrook coached an ESPN The Magazine Men's Soccer Academic All-American Selection in 2005, the 2007 SUNYAC Player of the Year, 25 SUNYAC all-conference selections and six all-region selections.
Hornibrook also has head-coaching experience at Houghton, where he compiled a 119-46-13 record and led the men's soccer program to NAIA regional titles in 1995 and 1996. In his final season at Houghton, he was named the NSCAA Northeast Region Coach of the Year and guided the team to a final national ranking of 24th. He helped produce 13 NAIA All-Americans, two conference players of the year, one conference freshman of the year, and six NAIA All-American Scholar Athletes. Hornibrook's overall record as a head coach is 182-115-30.
Hornibrook has a Canadian Soccer Association 'A' License, National Coaching Certification Program Level 5 (highest standard), is a graduate of the Canadian Soccer Association Apprenticeship program, a graduate of the National Coaching Institute, an NSCAA Level 2 GK Coach Certification and a graduate of the English Football Association Level 1 Psychology Course.
Prior to Houghton, Hornibrook was a member of the Canadian National Team staff and director of the Atlantic Regional Training Center from 1987-94. During that time, he coached with World Cup, Olympic and U-17 National teams in international competition, including the U-17 World Cup in 1987 and World Cup qualifying in 1992. In 1991, Hornibrook was a player/assistant coach for the Nova Scotia Clippers in 1991 in the Canadian Soccer League. Hornibrook served as head coach of the Winnipeg Fury in 1990 and was a guest coach with FC Auxerre of the French Elite League. In 1998-99, he was the North American scout for Middlesbrough FC of the English Premier League. He has also served on the preseason coaching staff of the Rochester Rhinos from 2005-07.
Hornibrook graduated from the University of New Brunswick, Canada, in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in education. He was a five-year member of the soccer team as a midfielder and was a two-time Atlantic Universities Athletic Association (AUAA) all-star. The team won a national title in 1980 and he was named an Athlete of Distinction in 1982. After graduation, Hornibrook was a member of the North American Soccer League's (NASL) Toronto Blizzards reserve squad in 1983. He also taught physical education from 1983-86 in Moncton, New Brunswick, winning provincial championships in soccer and wrestling.
Hornibrook earned a master's degree in sports science in 2008 from the United States Sports Academy in Mobile, Ala. He graduated with honors and was nominated for student of the year honors among all master's degree students at the institution.
A native of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Hornibrook is a graduate of Fredericton High School, where he earned Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in soccer. His team was crowned provincial champion in 1977. In 1992, Hornibrook was inducted into the city of Fredericton Sports Wall of Fame.
Hornibrook and his wife, Donna — who is the head coach of field hockey at Cornell — currently reside in Lansing, N.Y. They have two daughters, Kathryn and Emily.