Gregg Horner begins his 31st year in the Viking program, once again serving as the Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator for the 2024 campaign.
Horner was named the 2012 Assistant Coach of the Year in NAIA Football, presented by the American Football Coaches Association. The award was created to honor assistant coaches who excel in community service, commitment to the student-athlete, on-field coaching success and AFCA professional organization involvement.
On the field, Horner helped the Vikings to four straight conference championships from 2011 to 2014 and has been a part of seven conference championships and five national playoff appearances.
VCSU defensive lineman Riley Gerhardt finished off an impressive career in 2023, setting new school records for career sacks and tackles for loss while earning back-to-back 2nd Team All-American honors in 2022 and 2023.
Horner's defense was a key reason the Vikings posted an 8-2 overall record during the 2021 season, which included a 6-2 conference record and a second-place finish in the NSAA standings. Valley City State was ranked as high as No. 15 in the nation during the 2021 season. VCSU's defense set a new school record with 21 interceptions and allowed just 12.9 points per game – the lowest since the 1996 season. Defensive linemen Marshaun Jones and Riley Gerhardt were both named Honorable Mention All-American, and linebacker Jahidi West led the nation with eight interceptions.
Valley City State ended the 2020 season with a 5-2 record, finishing second in the NSAA standings and receiving votes in the final NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll. Defensive lineman Marshaun Jones was named 2nd Team All-American after posting 51 tackles and four sacks. Linebacker Sal Avila was named Honorable Mention All-American and NSAA Defensive Player of the Year after recording 70 tackles in seven games.
The Vikings posted a 7-3 record during the 2019 season, finishing second in the conference standings with a 5-2 record in the NSAA. A highlight of the season included a 23-22 win over No. 13-ranked Dickinson State University. The Viking defense ranked 22nd in the nation in scoring, allowing only 20 points per game.
The 2018 Viking defense ranked fourth in the nation in rushing, allowing just 103 yards on the ground per game. The team ranked 14th in total defense and 15th in the nation in points allowed, helping the Vikings to a 6-4 overall record and a 5-2 mark in conference play.
In 2016, he helped to Vikings to a 6-4 overall record and two wins over Top 25-ranked teams. The Viking defense ranked 16th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 20.6 points per game. The Vikings were also ranked in the Top 15 in pass defense efficiency and passing yards allowed per game. VCSU junior linebacker Nicholas McBeain was named 2nd Team All American after leading the nation with 18.8 tackles per game.
In 2015, VCSU's defense ranked 7th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 17.1 points per game. The Vikings were also 11th in pass defense efficiency and 25th in pass defense per game, allowing just 188 passing yards per game.
The 2014 defense ranked 3rd in the nation in pass defense efficiency, 6th in pass defense per game (149.5 yards), 20th in scoring defense (22 points/game) and 24th in the nation in total defense per game (332 yards). The Vikings held opponents to 17 or fewer points in six games, and three times held opponents to 10 points or less. VCSU's 2014 defense led the NSAA in total scoring defense per game, pass defense per game and total defense per game.
In 2013, Horner led the Viking defense that ranked 7th in the nation in pass defense, allowing just 152 passing yards a game. The Vikings ranked 24th in scoring defense per game, allowing 23.5 points per contest.
In 2012, his defense helped the Vikings to a 7-3 record and recorded two shutouts in 16-0 and 27-0 wins over Gustavus Adolphus and Lindenwood-Belleville. Nose guard Aaron Freije was named Co-A.I.I. Defensive Player of the Year.
Horner’s defense helped the team to a 9-2 record in 2011. Coach Horner tutored defensive lineman Jordan Maher, who earned the DAC’s Most Valuable Senior award and also the Defensive MVP award for the AII.
As a coach at VCSU, Horner has been a part of seven conference championships and five national playoff appearances. His defenses finished No. 1 in both scoring defense and total defense in the DAC-10 in 2000 and 2001, and have produced seven NAIA All-Americans and dozens of All-Conference performers and NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
Since becoming the defensive coordinator, the Horner-led defense has set 21 team or individual school records.
The Fargo native is a 1990 graduate of VCSU and a member of the 1988 squad that captured a NDCAC title and an NAIA Playoff berth. Gregg was also selected as the VCSU Student Senate President in 1989. He spent one season as a student assistant coach at VCSU working with the defensive line under former head coach Jim Dew.
Following graduation, Gregg moved on to spend two years as an assistant coach and social science teacher at Gardner-Edgerton High School in Gardner, Kansas.
Getting the opportunity to get back into the college game, he earned his Masters degree while serving as a graduate assistant coach at South Dakota State from 1992-94.
In 1994, Gregg returned to VCSU where he served as the defensive line coach and Director of Student Activities.
In 1996, he was named the Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Football Coach.
Gregg is also a lecturer in the Health Physical Education department at VCSU. Gregg and his wife Kathleen have two children, Iain and Maren.
