Going into her interview more than three decades ago, Coach Melanie Horn didn’t know what to expect from Westridge. After nearly four hours of interviewing with some of the administration, she was captivated by the school’s commitment to thoughtful education and their drive to make positive change in girls’ lives. Once hired, the new Director of Athletics felt immediately involved in the close-knit community of staff and students. “I could just tell already that it was a great place to be,” she said.
For Coach Horn, it continues to be the same aspects that initially drew her to Westridge that have kept her as an integral part of the community for the past 30 years.
Throughout Coach Horn’s time at Westridge, she has held several positions prior to stepping into her current role, most revolving around student support and advocacy. Working first as a Physical Education teacher, then as the Academic Dean, whose duties included running faculty meetings and overseeing counseling, and as Interim Upper School Director, Coach Horn fostered lasting connections with students of all grade levels. Getting to watch Westridge Tigers grow not only as athletes but as students and people, have been some of the most meaningful moments of her career.
Coach Horn has witnessed Westridge’s sports through countless highs and lows during her time as both a coach and administrator. “Tigers win or lose, I mean to just to be a part of watching athletes work their very hardest to try to accomplish a goal is rewarding for me, but it’s also it’s just so inspiring,” said Coach Horn.
Feeling inspired by Westridge Tigers, Coach Horn has made some of her own daring decisions that felt like no-brainers at the moment. The additions of golf, lacrosse, and most recently, flag football to Westridge’s sporting seasons are examples of some of these choices. Coach Horn made Westridge one of the first schools to implement football for girls.
When recalling hearing about the possibility of creating a flag football program Coach Horn said, “I was like, we have to have a team. I don’t care. We have to have the team”
Coach Horn’s continued push to better the athletics at Westridge is fuelled by her own experience growing up as a female student-athlete in the 1960s; she notably competed for the University of California, Los Angeles’ women’s basketball team, and was one of the first two women athletes awarded a full ride.
Even as she nears her last months at Westridge, Coach Horn will continue to work with determination, hopefully aiding teams in current and upcoming seasons to endless victories, and even some championships.
To Coach Horn, retirement is very bitter-sweet. She is filled with appreciation, pride, and excitement for what her future of travel and agility competitions with her dog, Maverick, has in store, but the idea of saying goodbye still feels very foreign.
“That’s all you can really hope for, at the end of the day, that people you know are proud of what you did, too…” Says Coach Horn.
