Lee VanHorn joined Auburn University as the Chief of Staff in November of 2022. VanHorn assists with daily operations within the athletics department, leading strategic initiatives and special projects, as well as facilitating operations among sports.
Prior to joining Auburn’s athletic department, VanHorn was an attorney with the national law firm Kutak Rock. As an attorney in Kutak Rock’s corporate division, VanHorn represented a variety of industries, including financial services, healthcare, real estate and public universities. Particularly, he advised clients on real estate transactions, real estate financing, and mergers and acquisitions. With his background in athletics, VanHorn also assisted multiple Power 5 institutions with coaching searches, specializing in due diligence and background research on candidates. He also advised clients on name, image and likeness agreements .
Before his law career, VanHorn served as the Associate AD of Legislative Affairs at Mississippi State where he was responsible for the department’s NIL initiatives and assisted with other legal affairs. VanHorn first returned to his alma mater as the Director of Baseball Operations, where he first connected with John Cohen. When Cohen transitioned from head baseball coach of the Bulldogs to Athletic Director at Mississippi State, VanHorn served as his Assistant AD of Administration.
VanHorn began his career in Washington D.C. in the intelligence community as a Contracting Officer. He then joined the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Triple-A organization, the Albuquerque Isotopes, working in publications and later had a brief stint with the Colorado Rockies minor league system.
A native of Winona, Mississippi, VanHorn graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mississippi State University and later received his Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas School of Law.
Prior to joining Auburn’s athletic department, VanHorn was an attorney with the national law firm Kutak Rock. As an attorney in Kutak Rock’s corporate division, VanHorn represented a variety of industries, including financial services, healthcare, real estate and public universities. Particularly, he advised clients on real estate transactions, real estate financing, and mergers and acquisitions. With his background in athletics, VanHorn also assisted multiple Power 5 institutions with coaching searches, specializing in due diligence and background research on candidates. He also advised clients on name, image and likeness agreements .
Before his law career, VanHorn served as the Associate AD of Legislative Affairs at Mississippi State where he was responsible for the department’s NIL initiatives and assisted with other legal affairs. VanHorn first returned to his alma mater as the Director of Baseball Operations, where he first connected with John Cohen. When Cohen transitioned from head baseball coach of the Bulldogs to Athletic Director at Mississippi State, VanHorn served as his Assistant AD of Administration.
VanHorn began his career in Washington D.C. in the intelligence community as a Contracting Officer. He then joined the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Triple-A organization, the Albuquerque Isotopes, working in publications and later had a brief stint with the Colorado Rockies minor league system.
A native of Winona, Mississippi, VanHorn graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mississippi State University and later received his Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas School of Law.