In August 2002, Renee Horton returned to her alma mater as the University of South Florida's assistant women's soccer coach. Horton joined her former coach, and current USF head coach, T. Logan Fleck, on the sidelines in the program's eighth year.
Horton's coaching career began shortly after she graduated from USF in 2000. During that year she was named assistant coach for the Land O'Lakes High School girl's soccer team, where her tutelage and guidance helped the Fighting Gators advance to the regional finals.
While with the Gators, Horton also coached Hillsborough County United, one of Tampa Bay's premier club teams. She worked with three Hillsborough County United teams, including serving as head coach for the U-13 team and as an assistant for both the U-14 and U-17 teams. In 2002, Horton's U-17 team made a state semifinal appearance.
Horton balanced her coaching roles at Land O'Lakes High and Hillsborough County United until her appointment at USF.
Horton's appointment as assistant coach marks the second time she has worn the green and gold for Fleck, as she was a key player for the Bulls from 1996-2000 and member of the regular season Conference USA championship team in 1998. Now she is entering her fifth year as first assistant coach of the USF women's soccer program.
As a Bull, Horton started 42 of the 63 games that she played in, helping USF to a 37-27-6 record. A speedy right-side defender, Horton became known as "Nene", a nickname Fleck borrowed from the left-footed Peruvian soccer legend Teofilo Cubillas Arizaga, a.k.a. "Nene". Her speed was also noticed by USF softball coach Ken Eriksen, who, knowing that Horton had never played organized softball, asked her to join the team in 1997 and used her primarily as a pinch runner.
Horton, who now holds a United States Soccer Federation National C coaching license, is also a four-year state staff member and Olympic Development Coach (ODP) for the Florida Youth Soccer Association.
Horton also excelled in soccer on the club and semi-pro level. Horton played for three club teams, including the Florida U23 state team who participated in the national championships. In 1998, she played club ball for the Seminole Blaze and the Tampa Bay Heather, helping the latter to the national tournament. In 1999 Horton played semi-pro ball in the W-League for the Jackson Calypso (Jackson, Miss.).
