This One Another Notch in Dave Van Horn's Impressive Resume

Razorbacks advance to Omaha in what may one of best coaching jobs for trip to Omaha

Author:
Andy Hodges
Publish date:
Jun 12, 2022 9:58 PM EDT

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Maybe it was getting on the road for this Arkansas team.

Or it may have been just getting to the NCAA Tournament.

Whatever the reason, Razorbacks coach Dave Van Horn has finally gotten things in place at the absolute right time.

"It never gets old," he said later. "It's hard. What never gets old is the satisfaction and smiles on the player's faces."

Hagen Smith-UNC Super 02 — Razorbacks pitcher Hagen Smith on the mound in the win over North Carolina on Sunday that advanced the Hogs to the College World Series. (Walt Beazley / Arkansas Communications)

This is now the seventh trip to Omaha for Van Horn. Coming to the end of May nobody would say it was his best team.

After an inconsistent year where this team looked great followed by stretches of doing a remarkable imitation of falling apart.

The Hogs didn't fall apart and came together at the perfect time.

Now they are headed to Omaha for the College World Series.

And you couldn't have gotten many folks that thought that was possible a few weeks ago.

Arkansas' ups and downs this year don't looks bad now. Tennessee was considered the best team coming into the NCAA and Notre Dame took two of three in Knoxville.

It's hard to find a team in recent memory people hated as much as the Vols this year. They won't be in Omaha.

Maybe the biggest masterpiece throughout the Super Regional was how Van Horn managed the pitching staff and suddenly finds himself in pretty good shape heading to Omaha.