LINCOLN, Neb. -- It was just a matter of time before Nebraska's little secret got out.

Athletic Director Bill Byrne knew Dave Van Horn had the makings of a great baseball coach when he hired him to lead the Cornhuskers five years ago.

And soon, the rest of the college baseball world knew it as well as Van Horn resurrected the struggling program and thrust it into national prominence.

Van Horn did such a good job that the University of Arkansas lured him away Friday to coach the Razorbacks.

"He must be the real deal,'' said Jim Elsener of Lincoln, a school teacher and avid baseball fan.

Not many people had heard of Van Horn some five years ago when he was named head coach at Nebraska after three seasons at Northwestern State in Louisiana.

He soon became a hot commodity after leading Nebraska to the College World Series in Omaha the past two years and narrowly missed going in 2000.

In 2001, Van Horn was honored by Baseball America as the NCAA Coach of the Year.

Now, Nebraska will be led by Mike Anderson. The 37-year-old has been on the NU staff since 1995 and is the lone assistant remaining from the staff of former head coach John Sanders, who was fired in 1997.

Sanders, who compiled a 767-453-1 record in 20 years, led the Huskers to a 27-35 mark in his final season -- his second losing campaign.

Van Horn bolted out of the gate in replacing Sanders by chalking up a 214-92 record at Nebraska, building on the 106-65 mark he set at Northwestern State. Before that, he led Central Missouri State to the 1994 NCAA Division II national title.

Husker fans were delirious about the new state of Husker baseball until word came last week that Arkansas coach Norm DeBriyn was retiring after more than three decades coaching the Razorbacks.

The fix appeared to be in.

After all, Van Horn played and coached at Arkansas. His wife, Karen, is an Arkansas native.

And even though Nebraska began play this year in a new $33 million stadium complex, the Razorbacks' facilities are widely regarded as among the best in college baseball.

Van Horn's departure miffed some Nebraska fans.

"We built a stadium for him -- I thought he would stay,'' Elsener said. "And I can't believe anybody would want to go to Arkansas.''

Baseball fan Ed Kojdecki of Valley wished Van Horn well.

"He was a real nice coach and I appreciate what he did for the team,'' he said. "It did break my heart to see him go. He's a nice man.''

Husker fan Jack Frohloff of Omaha agreed.

"My thoughts are if that's what is best for him, let him go,'' he said. "Nebraska will fare fine.''

Byrne, who also named pitching coach Rob Childress as NU's associate head coach on Friday, said he was confident the program will stay on track.

"Nebraska baseball has made great strides over the past few years under coach Van Horn,'' Byrne said. "And although we hate to see him go, I know that ... Mike and Rob will keep us successful on the diamond and lead us back to Omaha.''