Alcorn State announced the hiring of Derek Horne as the school’s new athletic director Friday at the Vicksburg Expansion Center.

Horne comes to ASU after a three-year stint as the director of athletics at Florida A&M, where he negotiated the largest contract for a historically black college in NCAA history when the school agreed to a $900,000 deal with Ohio State in 2013.

The former Ole Miss basketball player spent 15 years as an athletic administrator for his alma mater before taking the job at Florida A&M.

“Horne’s background and accomplishments as an athletic director also demonstrates his strong leadership abilities and his commitment to develop leaders in and out of the classroom,” Alcorn State President Alfred Rankins Jr. said in a release.

The newly hired AD discussed his current vision for Alcorn’s athletic department, one that includes building a sense of community and galvanizing support from inside the campus.

“I think that is so important, starting from the campus and going inside out,” Horne said. “Working with the students, the faculty, the staff, the administration, the supporters locally, and getting that support galvanized, and then getting it growing out so that all supporters can join in. If you don’t have a sense of community, you can’t enjoy the ride.”

Horne also talked about the standards he wishes to set on the field — standards he hopes will bring home multiple championships across the school’s 17 sports.

“We’re going to win championships. Not one, but championships,” he said. “I think when you build a sense of community and your student athletes feel focused and competitive, championships will come. And that’s what we’re going to do.”