Coaching Staff

Meet The Tiger Head Soccer Coach

Al Horner

Coach Horner starting playing soccer as a youth, in the state of Maryland. At that time the northern states were far ahead of the south in soccer. As a consequence he was recruited by Pfeiffer University (NCAA Division II school in North Carolina), and played for four years at that institution. Despite numerous knee injuries he played on men’s leagues for several years after college.

He started coaching on the youth level while living in Florida and South Carolina in the 1980’s and 1990’s. He had much success, particularly in South Carolina, where he had an outstanding winning percentage, never having a losing season. In 1995 his team won the State Championship, at the highest lever of play (Premier).

Coach Horner has been coaching the Tiger Soccer team since it’s onset in 1998. Since 1999 the team has made the region playoffs each year, and never finished lower than No. 3 in the region. In 1999, the team was No. 1 in the region for regular season play. In 2003, the team won the region championship, and placed No.2  in the Southeast  District. In 2005, SGC finished second in the Georgia State Tournament, to eventual national champion Georgia Perimeter College.  SGC has been ranked in the top 20 in the Nation at some point during the season every year since 1999.

The Tigers like to emphasize defense and start their attacks by working the ball in the back and moving forward as opportunities develop. They play a possession style of soccer.

Meet The Tiger Assistant Soccer Coach

Duane Benson

Duane Benson has been a member of the South Georgia College faculty since 1982, and now holds the position of Interim Dean Humanities & Associate Professor of Mathematics. He teaches Learning Support Mathematics and is the faculty advisor for all the soccer players.

Growing up in the Kansas City, Missouri area, Benson played baseball, football, tennis, and ran cross-country and track while in high school. After graduating from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, he joined the Peace Corps and served as a secondary math-science teacher in Sabah, Malaysia. This experience introduced him to the international passion of soccer.

Coach Benson holds the F and G Coaching Licenses, and has experience in coaching U-6 and U-8 soccer programs for the South Georgia Soccer Club.