University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Welcomes Alumni McKenzie Lantz Breuker to Equestrian Coaching Staff
June 17, 2021 | Equestrian
ATHENS, Ga. --- University of Georgia head equestrian coach Meghan Boenig has announced the addition of alumni McKenzie Lantz Breuker to the coaching staff as Western Assistant Coach.
"We are so grateful for the work of our Mane Dawg Sara Parr Hall," Boenig said. "She invested in our growth and helped secure multiple event and championship titles. I knew there was only one person that could build on our established success and propel us forward. It is with the greatest joy and excitement that we welcome back to Georgia, McKenzie Lantz Breuker! Her unparalleled commitment to student-athletes success, exceptional record, impeccable character, Red and Black blood and her wonderful supportive family make her the perfect fit to the missing piece of our program. We are thrilled!"
After finishing the most successful reining rider career in Georgia history, Lantz Breuker began her coaching career as a Volunteer Assistant for the Bulldogs in 2015. She then moved on to Fresno State and SMU before coming back to coach at her alma mater. While away she helped grow both the Fresno State and SMU programs to prevalence including being named the National Collegiate Equestrian Association Western Assistant Coach of the Year following SMU's first-ever national championship finals appearance and Reserve National Champion finish.
"I'm incredibly excited to be back in Athens where it all started," Lantz Breuker said. "The University of Georgia once provided me with so many wonderful opportunities to learn and grow as a student-athlete and I cannot wait to be a part of that same journey for so many talented young athletes. I was fortunate to help build a program at SMU along side great coaches and incredible riders. I am looking forward to joining a team with deep roots and a strong championship tradition. I am very excited to be home."
In her four seasons at SMU, Lantz Breuker helped coach the Mustangs to the program's first-ever United Equestrian Conference championship in 2018 and then again in 2019 and 2021. The horsemanship and reining squads had their best seasons in history during her first year at the helm. Her rider was the first at SMU to be recognized as an NCEA First Team All-America and be named NCEA Reining Rider of the Year. The following season, Lantz Breuker's reining squad advanced to the event finals at the NCEA National Championship. After COVID-19 cut seasons short, Lantz Breuker's squads ranked second for horsemanship and third in reining to finish the year. Rounding out her time at SMU this past season, Lantz Breuker added two more NCEA Riders of the Year to her repertoire.
As a Bulldog, Lantz was a two-time NCEA All-American and SEC Rider of the Year. She has numerous All-SEC nods as well as NCEA and SEC Rider of the Month recognitions. As a team captain, she shined in the classroom with many selections to the UGA, SEC, and NCEA honor rolls as well as NCEA All-Academic recognition on top of being named a two-time UGA Western Most Valuable Player and a National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity Finalist. Lantz Breuker was appointed to the Non-Pro National Reining Horses Association committee and has established beneficial contacts in both the NRHA and American Quarter Horse Association.
"McKenzie is someone I admired prior to her college career at Georgia and that grew through her leadership in and outside of the arena while competing here," Boenig continued. "Watching her build and grow teams at Fresno and SMU demonstrated her coaching and recruiting skills. She made history at SMU this year, helping them to their first championship appearance and very nearly winning a NCEA national Championship against us. We know the heart she puts into all that she does and know how difficult it was for her to leave the student-athletes and staff at SMU. Her heart and passion are unmatched. I'm still pinching myself in welcoming her home. Combining two 2021 NCEA Assistant Coaches of the Year together… we are ushering in an incredible era of excellence at the highest level with the best team in and outside of the arena."
The daughter of respected reining trainers from Michigan, Lantz Breuker is married to Chris Breuker. The couple welcomed a son, Riggings Matthew Breuker, in February 2021.
"We are so grateful for the work of our Mane Dawg Sara Parr Hall," Boenig said. "She invested in our growth and helped secure multiple event and championship titles. I knew there was only one person that could build on our established success and propel us forward. It is with the greatest joy and excitement that we welcome back to Georgia, McKenzie Lantz Breuker! Her unparalleled commitment to student-athletes success, exceptional record, impeccable character, Red and Black blood and her wonderful supportive family make her the perfect fit to the missing piece of our program. We are thrilled!"
After finishing the most successful reining rider career in Georgia history, Lantz Breuker began her coaching career as a Volunteer Assistant for the Bulldogs in 2015. She then moved on to Fresno State and SMU before coming back to coach at her alma mater. While away she helped grow both the Fresno State and SMU programs to prevalence including being named the National Collegiate Equestrian Association Western Assistant Coach of the Year following SMU's first-ever national championship finals appearance and Reserve National Champion finish.
"I'm incredibly excited to be back in Athens where it all started," Lantz Breuker said. "The University of Georgia once provided me with so many wonderful opportunities to learn and grow as a student-athlete and I cannot wait to be a part of that same journey for so many talented young athletes. I was fortunate to help build a program at SMU along side great coaches and incredible riders. I am looking forward to joining a team with deep roots and a strong championship tradition. I am very excited to be home."
In her four seasons at SMU, Lantz Breuker helped coach the Mustangs to the program's first-ever United Equestrian Conference championship in 2018 and then again in 2019 and 2021. The horsemanship and reining squads had their best seasons in history during her first year at the helm. Her rider was the first at SMU to be recognized as an NCEA First Team All-America and be named NCEA Reining Rider of the Year. The following season, Lantz Breuker's reining squad advanced to the event finals at the NCEA National Championship. After COVID-19 cut seasons short, Lantz Breuker's squads ranked second for horsemanship and third in reining to finish the year. Rounding out her time at SMU this past season, Lantz Breuker added two more NCEA Riders of the Year to her repertoire.
As a Bulldog, Lantz was a two-time NCEA All-American and SEC Rider of the Year. She has numerous All-SEC nods as well as NCEA and SEC Rider of the Month recognitions. As a team captain, she shined in the classroom with many selections to the UGA, SEC, and NCEA honor rolls as well as NCEA All-Academic recognition on top of being named a two-time UGA Western Most Valuable Player and a National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity Finalist. Lantz Breuker was appointed to the Non-Pro National Reining Horses Association committee and has established beneficial contacts in both the NRHA and American Quarter Horse Association.
"McKenzie is someone I admired prior to her college career at Georgia and that grew through her leadership in and outside of the arena while competing here," Boenig continued. "Watching her build and grow teams at Fresno and SMU demonstrated her coaching and recruiting skills. She made history at SMU this year, helping them to their first championship appearance and very nearly winning a NCEA national Championship against us. We know the heart she puts into all that she does and know how difficult it was for her to leave the student-athletes and staff at SMU. Her heart and passion are unmatched. I'm still pinching myself in welcoming her home. Combining two 2021 NCEA Assistant Coaches of the Year together… we are ushering in an incredible era of excellence at the highest level with the best team in and outside of the arena."
The daughter of respected reining trainers from Michigan, Lantz Breuker is married to Chris Breuker. The couple welcomed a son, Riggings Matthew Breuker, in February 2021.
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