Football
Aaron Van Horn
- Title:
- Outside Linebackers Coach
Aaron Van Horn, who joined the Washington staff as a defensive quality control analyst prior to the 2024 season, was promoted to outside linebackers coach in January of 2025. He returns for a second season in that role in 2026.
In 2025, with Van Horn's assistance, Washington's defense never allowed more than 26 points in any one game, and made huge improvements in a number of key areas over the 2024 season.
The Huskies went from No. 87 in the NCAA in rushing defense in 2024, to the No. 11 rushing defense (100.1 yards per game) in 2025. Washington’s scoring defense (18.7 points per game) ranked No. 15 in the nation, up from No. 53 a year before.
The Huskies finished the 2025 season ranked No. 22 in interceptions and No. 32 in defensive first downs, increases from No. 97 and 106, respectively. Washington also finished the season ranked No. 21 in total defense and No. 31 in red-zone defense, both well ahead of the 2024 performance.
Van Horn was part of head coach Jedd Fisch’s initial UW staff and worked directly with the defensive coordinator during the 2024 season, when the Husky D made great strides over the previous year. In 2024, Washington ranked No. 28 in total defense after having been No. 96 in 2023. The UW also went from the 117th spot in passing yards allowed, to No. 2 in 2024, and saw its red-zone defense improve 20 spots.
Van Horn came to Seattle along with Fisch, having spent the 2021 through 2023 seasons at Arizona, first as a defensive quality control, and then for two seasons as a defensive graduate assistant working with the inside linebackers. In 2023, he helped mentor then-Wildcat and current Husky Jacob Manu, who earned first-team All-Pac-12 after leading the conference in tackles.
Before moving to Tucson, Van Horn worked three seasons at Michigan (2019-21), where he was a defensive quality control coach, working with inside linebackers and defensive ends. In that role, he helped coach Wolverines star Aidan Hutcnson, a unanimous All-America selection and the No. 2 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. He also worked with consensus All-America linebacker Devin Bush, who was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2019 draft.
Van Horn first got started in the coaching profession as an undergrad at Michigan, first as a recruiting intern as a freshman (2015-16 school year) and then as a student manager (Jan., 2016-May, 2019). In 2018, he was the Wolverines head defensive manager.
Van Horn earned a bachelors degree in movement science (kinesiology) from Michigan and a master's in educational leadership from Arizona.
Van Horn's Coaching Resume
Washington
2025-present: Outside Linebackers
2024: Defensive Quality Control
Arizona
2022-23: Defensive Graduate Assistant
Michigan
2019-21: Defensive Quality Control
In 2025, with Van Horn's assistance, Washington's defense never allowed more than 26 points in any one game, and made huge improvements in a number of key areas over the 2024 season.
The Huskies went from No. 87 in the NCAA in rushing defense in 2024, to the No. 11 rushing defense (100.1 yards per game) in 2025. Washington’s scoring defense (18.7 points per game) ranked No. 15 in the nation, up from No. 53 a year before.
The Huskies finished the 2025 season ranked No. 22 in interceptions and No. 32 in defensive first downs, increases from No. 97 and 106, respectively. Washington also finished the season ranked No. 21 in total defense and No. 31 in red-zone defense, both well ahead of the 2024 performance.
Van Horn was part of head coach Jedd Fisch’s initial UW staff and worked directly with the defensive coordinator during the 2024 season, when the Husky D made great strides over the previous year. In 2024, Washington ranked No. 28 in total defense after having been No. 96 in 2023. The UW also went from the 117th spot in passing yards allowed, to No. 2 in 2024, and saw its red-zone defense improve 20 spots.
Van Horn came to Seattle along with Fisch, having spent the 2021 through 2023 seasons at Arizona, first as a defensive quality control, and then for two seasons as a defensive graduate assistant working with the inside linebackers. In 2023, he helped mentor then-Wildcat and current Husky Jacob Manu, who earned first-team All-Pac-12 after leading the conference in tackles.
Before moving to Tucson, Van Horn worked three seasons at Michigan (2019-21), where he was a defensive quality control coach, working with inside linebackers and defensive ends. In that role, he helped coach Wolverines star Aidan Hutcnson, a unanimous All-America selection and the No. 2 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. He also worked with consensus All-America linebacker Devin Bush, who was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2019 draft.
Van Horn first got started in the coaching profession as an undergrad at Michigan, first as a recruiting intern as a freshman (2015-16 school year) and then as a student manager (Jan., 2016-May, 2019). In 2018, he was the Wolverines head defensive manager.
Van Horn earned a bachelors degree in movement science (kinesiology) from Michigan and a master's in educational leadership from Arizona.
Van Horn's Coaching Resume
Washington
2025-present: Outside Linebackers
2024: Defensive Quality Control
Arizona
2022-23: Defensive Graduate Assistant
Michigan
2019-21: Defensive Quality Control
UW Football Press Conference: February 4, 2026
Wednesday, February 04
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Chris Petersen | College Football Hall of Hame Class of 2026
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Head Coach Jedd Fisch Press Conference: January 14, 2026
Wednesday, January 14
