Hi all, Horizon Boy here! You all know, or should know, how passionate I am about #HLMBBFashion. What better time of the year for our Horizon League coaches to showcase their individualities and get us pumped for the start of the season than Halloween! Thus, I felt it crucial to write about what every Horizon League coach should dress up as this year. Follow along with me:
Andy Toole – Builder/Handyman
Complete with his hard hat, reflective vest and tool belt, Coach Toole can show everyone he’s re-Tooled and ready to build once again with this Halloween fit. Such a costume would prove Andy Toole didn’t let any of last year’s spoils eat away at his grit and determination; RMU is going to have to build from the ground up if they want to dance two years in a row. Still, Andy can pay homage to the Colonial’s regular season and conference title last year with a golden hammer on the tool belt or something. He should also borrow a helmet sticker from the football team for his hard hat.
Bart Lundy – Magician
Dressing as a magician is an obvious choice for Bart Lundy this year. Milwaukee has branded “Lundy Magic” for years given Bart’s ability to pull wins from thin air. If Coach Lundy were to suit up with a top hat and wand, it would be a good way to show Milwaukee he’s ready to pull the elusive rabbit out of the hat and get the Panthers back in the NCAA Tournament. Coach Lundy is keenly aware of this nickname, but us fans have yet to see it matriculate to an actual outfit. Fans would love to see him drop by Major Goolsby’s bar in this get up. We’ve always wanted it and this can be the year! Bart, if it helps, I will say please: Please do this for Halloween.
Ben Howlett – Werewolf
Ben can howl at (Howlett) the Moon with a spooky werewolf costume. Hired in “the middle of the night” this offseason after a surprising and controversial departure of his predecessor– Ben and his pack of West Liberty werewolves have suddenly appeared, hungry and ready to tear apart the conference competition. Coach Howlett needs a loud and attention grabbing fit to let across the Horizon know that the sun has set on the old IUPUI/IU-Indy and there’s a new beast ready to take charge of the Jungle. Further, this costume will reflect his voracious transition from winning DII coach to winning DI coach. Jaguar Nation wants to see you howl, Coach Howlett!
Clint Sargent – Army General
Left! Wright! Left, Wright, Left! Coach Sargent should rank up to Army General this Halloween and command his team like a true sergeant. This costume sets the tone that Clint Sargent has his team in marching orders for his 2nd season, while also paying tribute to those weird off-white Camo jerseys Wright State used to wear (Can we bring those back too??). Further, this signals to the rest of the league that if you want to win at the Nutter Center, you’re gonna have to battle Sargent’s troops in the trenches. We’d salute you for this one, Coach!
Darrin Horn – Matador
Nobody knows better than Darrin that if you mess with the Norse, you get the Horn. Coach Horn should become a Matador, but instead of a red sheet thing matadors have, it should be bright NKU yellow. I might even write “Mess with the Norse, get the Horn” on the sheet, but I’ll leave that creative liberty to you, Coach Horn. Have NKU’s accounts post this on the socials and tell me it wouldn’t help get fans excited about coming to Truist Arena…you can’t!
Doug Gottlieb – Caterpillar -> Butterfly
Doug should begin the day as a caterpillar — hungry and curious. After morning practice, he switches into a butterfly outfit. Why? Well you can’t just judge a caterpillar; you must be patient to get a butterfly. This will show Phoenix fans he’s a new Doug who’s more than his first season’s record. It will also emphasize that he can be more than one thing on the same day. If he can handle different costumes, he can certainly handle two jobs at one time. Like, for example, being a basketball coach and having a podcast. Lastly, the caterpillar->butterfly costumes give credence to the resilient and transforming nature of the Phoenix. Alternate idea: Bingo Caller so he can keep recruiting old players.
Ethan Faulkner – Buster Bluth
Ok this one’s not that creative, I just think that if Coach Faulkner put on those round glasses and got a hook hand, he would look exactly like the lovable Arrested Development character Buster Bluth. I’m right and you know I’m right. Oh, and his brother Evan, the director of basketball operations at YSU, could be Gob Bluth. There’s always a conference title in the banana stand?
Greg Kampe – Trojan Warrior
You all thought I’d say hot dog suit didn’t you? Nope! That’s what Coach Kampe would want you to think! But really he should dress up as a Trojan warrior alongside a wooden horse because he has somehow tricked three top 10 teams — Michigan, Purdue, and Houston — into letting him into their arenas in the first two weeks of the season. Greg knows how to play spoiler and we’d love to see him predict an early upset with this Halloween costume.
Jon Coffman – Jo(h)n Wayne
Coach Coffman had the best costume of 2024, dressing up as Peter Pan for Fort Wayne’s holiday party last year. If he ran that back, I wouldn’t complain. However, he can keep the momentum going by dressing up as notorious Western actor John Wayne. At the helm for his 12th season, what better way for Coach Coffman to show that Fort Wayne is Jon’s Wayne, then by (masta)donning a cowboy hat, fake pistol, cowboy boots and spurs? Fort Wayne will need a hero like Jon to save the city by getting the Dons to their first ever NCAA Tournament this year. Keep up the great costumes and show us your best Western wear Coach Coffman!
Mark Montgomery – Book Guy
Easy. Classic. Lovable. Whomst among us wouldn’t enjoy Coach Montgomery cosplaying as Detroit’s most infamous fan… Book Guy?! Mark Montgomery would score an easy social media hit with Titans fans by taking a break from practice, slapping on some glasses, and reading a book of his choice in the stands of Calihan Hall. We’d love to see it, Coach!
Rob Summers – LeBron James
Coach Summers can let Clevelanders and Vikings faithful know “I’m coming home” for a second stint at Cleveland State with this costume of Northeastern, Ohio legend Lebron James! Dressing up as Lebron with full jersey and shorts would catch the attention of Cleveland locals and be the first step towards getting the Vikings the attention they’ve long deserved at the Wolstein Center from their city. Maybe this opens an outside lane to a Bryce James transfer too? Oh and if you think it’s lame to dress up as a younger athlete… don’t worry – Rob Summers and Lebron were both born in 1984! Alternate idea: Covid Dennis Gates w/ clear facemask.
