Coach Steve Hornung

Steve graduated from Pearl River High School in 1973 and went on to SUNY Oneonta where he received his BA degree in Education in 1977. He arrived in Sidney in the spring of 1978, serving the district as a social studies teacher, first for a half-year in the old junior high school. That fall he moved to the high school where he remained as teacher and coach until 2015*.

Participation in boys sports by the mid 1980s had necessitated adding another sport; soccer was the natural choice. Steve was the first soccer coach Sidney ever had, beginning with an abbreviated 6-game schedule in 1985. The team went 0-6. However, improvement was noticeable, especially with the formation of youth recreation soccer for students in K-6.

By 1992, Steve stepped "down" to guide the first wave of soccer-talented boys at the JV level - it was a wise move. From 1993-96 he led a terrific streak of four straight teams who made the Section 4 Class C finals. The best of the best was during the 1994 season, as the Warriors went 19-2-1, won the Sus League and Section 4 titles.

With an enthusiastic Sidney crowd on hand the Warriors tied NYS powerhouse Syracuse CBA 1-1 at the state quarterfinals. It was a monumental match, lost on penalty kicks, but only after many rounds of overtime.

Steve coached the varsity boys soccer team for 26 years. He turned the reins over to his son Scott following the 2007 season. He had compiled 239 wins, won 6 league or divisional championships, and one Section IV Title., Once the program was established, it shows a 13-year stretch of a 188-59-12 (76.1 %) record. Steve was recognized by the Daily Star as the area Coach of the Year twice while his teams often were ranked in the top 20 in the New York State High School soccer polls.

One concept Steve emphasized to his players was to play sports in every season, no matter what sport it was. True to form, he coached JV softball, and modified basketball for many years. He practiced what he preached.

Steve's teaching career seems never-ending. *His tenure ended in 2015 yet he returned several times to Sidney as a "replacement" before starting a new position at Schenevus , where he's also a successful girls soccer co-coach. Last fall the Lady Dragons won their way to the NYS Class D finals!

He's an avid road racer and triathlete as witnessed by two of his three marathons run in Boston. Support is provided by his sons Rob and Scott, plus his partner Mary Harrison and her children Roxanne & William, All of the kids: served as ball runners (and other roles) when they were youngsters. Now they provide sideline advice!

Perhaps the best example of what he built at Sidney was the quality of athletes he produced including several coaches who have had successful seasons.

Today, Steve is most proud of his granddaughter Madison. He looks forward to watching her play soccer in the future from a lawn chair on the sideline.