Steve Horne, a Rome, Georgia native who guided thousands of young athletes as a legendary coach, passed away on Monday, October 13, 2025, after suffering cardiac arrest.
According to reports, Steve Horne experienced a cardiac event over the weekend while attending Heritage Days.
Furthermore, he was without a heartbeat for 20 minutes and remained in a coma at Holston Valley Medical Center before his untimely passing.
Steve Horne was a cherished member of the Georgia community and touched the lives of many as a longtime high school basketball and football coach, leading his team to several victories.
He served as the boys basketball coach at Pepperell High School for 34 years before resigning from his position in 2012. Steve also served as assistant football coach and offensive coordinator for the PHS boys football team for 24 years.
Steve Horne positively impacted the community as a legendary coach and was among the most long-tenured coaches in Greater Rome.
Similarly, he guided the PHS boys basketball team, the Dragons, to seven appearances in the state tournament, including leading the team to a 21-6 record in 2007.
In addition to being a fantastic coach, Steve Horne was also an avid golfer and won the hearts of many with his kind and cheerful nature.
Many of his loved ones are paying tribute to the late Steve Horne and extending their heartfelt condolences to his family during this difficult time.
One wrote:
“I was never much of a basketball player, but Coach Steve Horne made me a better human being and I’ve tried my best to use whatever I am to make life better for a lot of people who just needed a chance. He helped make hundreds, if not thousands, just like me. What a legacy. Rest in Peace Coach. A life well lived.”
Stewart Bratcher
Another added:
“I had the privilege of being coached by this man for four years both on the hardwood and on the football field and I was blessed beyond words to learn from him.He taught me lessons that go far beyond the game about discipline, heart, leadership, and life.”
Dave Whichard
Steve Horne is Survived By His Longtime Wife, Sissie Carter Horne, Daughter, and The Entire Family
In addition to being an amazing coach, Steve Horne was also a great husband to his longtime wife, Sissie Carter Horne.
The couple were happily married for decades and proudly raised a daughter, Emma Horne Price, to be successful in her career.
Sissie Horne often shares pictures of her husband, Steve Horne, on social media, expressing her love and pride for him.
While Steve began his career as a coach, his wife, Sissie, has been thriving in her career as a realtor for over two decades.
Sissie Carter Horne has been serving as a realtor at Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners in Newman, Georgia, since 2008. Prior to that, she served as a realtor at The Home Source Realtors in Peachtree, GA, for five years.
Sissie earned her BBA in economics from the University of West Georgia in 1985.
Talking about their only daughter, Emma Kathryn Price, she followed in the footsteps of her father, Steve Horne, and is a former high school basketball star.
Emma played girls’ varsity basketball for four years from 2006 to 2009 at Pepperell High School and currently serves as assistant girls basketball coach at Pepperell High School and 3rd and 5th grade teacher at Pepperell Elementary School.
Furthermore, Emma is married to Cord Price and the couple is blessed with two beautiful kids, a son named Corbyn Joanah and a daughter named Graycen Connor.
In addition to his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren, Steve Horne is survived by his entire family.
