Former Rutgers University women's basketball star Mauri Horton has been named girls basketball coach at Plainfield High School.

Horton, a third-team All-Big East selection as a senior in 2003, was an assistant on coach Elizabeth Clark's staff last season.

"I have as much passion and drive as I did when I was playing," Horton said.

The Minnesota native's resume includes a brief professional career overseas. She is expecting a smooth transition as she begins her first head coaching job for a team rich with upperclassmen.

"This is going to be the same exact team," Horton said. "It's not like we have to start over again with new kids and a new system. That's hard on the kids. Everything will be familiar, so we can just play basketball and we don't have to get to know each other again."

Clark praised Horton's work throughout last season as the Cardinals finished 10-13 and qualified for the NJSIAA Tournament. Horton, 27, becomes one of the youngest local girls basketball coaches, but she expects that to work as an advantage.

"A lot of them look at me like I'm their big sister, which is good," Horton said. "But they also respect me. I'm always telling them, "If you want it, you can go get it. You just have to put the time in.' Just Google my name and you'll see that I did go get at 16, 17, 18 years old. My whole thing is to get them to college — whether it's Division I, II or III — and to get an education."