UK Football Adds Strength & Conditioning Coach Rafael Horton
Rafael Horton returns to the Kentucky football program as an assistant strength and conditioning coach, head coach Mark Stoops has announced. Horton spent the last two seasons as the assistant head coach for football strength and conditioning at West Virginia.
“We’re glad to have Rafael back with our program,” Stoops said. “He did a good job with us before, and I really liked his energy. The experience he’s gained since then will only enhance his technical knowledge and ability to motivate and relate to players.”
At Kentucky, Horton will help direct the strength and conditioning program along with director of performance Corey Edmond, director of performance/head strength coach Mark Hill and assistant strength coach Tyler Malone.
“We are excited to have Rafael back with our program,” Edmond said. “He brings a cohesiveness and an energy to what we are trying to do here. Our emphasis at Kentucky is developing players and he has a track record of doing just that. What makes our staff unique is that titles do not define us. We are all head strength coaches. Our entire staff has the ability to lead the room, and we work well together. We are building something special and getting Rafael back was key in what we are trying to accomplish at UK.”
Prior to West Virginia, Horton was the head football strength and conditioning coach at Troy from 2015-18 where he was an integral part of the Trojan’s success. In his four seasons, the Trojans compiled a 35-16 record, won the 2017 Sun Belt Conference championship, tying for the 2018 Sun Belt Eastern Division Championship and won three straight bowl games.
Horton’s previous stint at Kentucky was from 2013-15 as an assistant strength and conditioning coach. In his two seasons, he trained former Wildcats and current NFL players Alvin “Bud” Dupree (Pittsburgh Steelers), Za’Darius Smith (Green Bay Packers) and Avery Williamson (Pittsburgh Steelers).
“I’m excited to be back at UK,” Horton said. “To me, it’s all about the players and I’m looking forward to working and developing this team and most importantly, helping them reach their goals.”
Horton also worked five years at Fort Valley State as an assistant strength and conditioning coach and linebacker coach for one year before being promoted to the strength and conditioning coordinator. As head of the department, he was responsible for supervising the strength and conditioning staff for all 11 varsity sports and cheerleading. He was also the university’s fitness instructor, developing fitness programs to help promote a healthier lifestyle for students, faculty and staff members.
Horton, 39, holds numerous certifications, including NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association) and CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists) as well as certifications with the United States Association of Weightlifting in sports performance, the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a performance enhancement specialist and the National Association of Speed and Explosion.
The Barnesville, Georgia, native received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Fort Valley State in 2010 and his master’s degree in exercise science from California University of Pennsylvania in 2011.
He has one daughter, Renee.
