Aaron Henry (born November 28, 1988) is an American football coach and former safety who is currently the defensive coordinator at the University of Illinois. He began his professional career with the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL), and played his college football for the Wisconsin Badgers.
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Defensive coordinator |
| Team | Illinois |
| Conference | Big Ten |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | November 28, 1988 Immokalee, Florida, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 2007–2011 | Wisconsin |
| 2012 | Oakland Raiders* |
| Position(s) | Defensive back |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2014–2015 | Arkansas (GA) |
| 2016 | Rutgers (DB) |
| 2017 | NC State (S) |
| 2018–2019 | NC State (CB) |
| 2020 | Vanderbilt (CB) |
| 2021–2022 | Illinois (DB) |
| 2023–present | Illinois (DC) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
Playing career
editHigh School
editHenry was a multi sport athlete at Immokalee High School in Immokalee, Florida.[1] As a wide receiver and defensive back, he helped Immokalee to the 2004 Florida state title and go undefeated in the 2006 regular season. He was an all-state football player, all-county basketball player, and state qualifier in track.[2]
College
editHe committed to play safety at Wisconsin under head coach Bret Bielema. There he was a three time Academic All-Big Ten recipient along with being awarded first and second team All-Big Ten.[3]
NFL
editIn 2012 he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Oakland Raiders,[4][5] however he was cut before the regular season.
Coaching career
editArkansas
editIn 2014 Henry began his career in coaching as a defensive graduate assistant at Arkansas under his former coach at Wisconsin Bret Bielema.[2] He stayed there until the end of the 2015 season.[6]
Rutgers
editHenry spent the 2016 season as the defensive back's coach for Rutgers under Chris Ash.[1][6]
NC State
editIn 2017 he went to NC State as the team's safeties coach.[7][8] In 2018 and 2019 he coached the team's cornerbacks.
Vanderbilt
editIn 2020 he was the cornerback's coach for Vanderbilt.[9][10]
Illinois
editIn 2021 he was reunited with Bielema serving as Illinois defensive backs coach.[11] In 2023 he was promoted to the role of defensive coordinator.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b "College football: Immokalee's Aaron Henry named assistant at Rutgers". www.naplesnews.com. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ a b "College football: Immokalee grad, former Badgers star Aaron Henry coaching at Arkansas". www.naplesnews.com. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ "Aaron Henry | Football". Wisconsin Badgers. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ "Player Profile: S Aaron Henry". Las Vegas Raiders. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ Hughes, Elliot (May 10, 2012). "Q&A: Aaron Henry on taking next step with Raiders". The Badger Herald. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ a b NJ.com, Dan Duggan | NJ Advance Media for (December 28, 2015). "RU to hire Arkansas GA Aaron Henry as asst. DB coach". nj. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ "NC State hires Henry to coach safeties". ESPN.com. January 20, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ NJ.com, Keith Sargeant | NJ Advance Media for (January 16, 2017). "RU assistant DB coach Aaron Henry leaves to join NC St". nj. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ "Aaron Henry joining Vanderbilt's staff". PackPride.com. Retrieved December 25, 2022.[dead link]
- ^ "TheWolfpackCentral - Another defensive coach leaving NC State football". ncstate.rivals.com. January 18, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ "Aaron Henry named FootballScoop Defensive Backs Coach of the Year". WCIA.com. January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
- ^ Kimball, Anderson. "Aaron Henry promoted to be Illinois football's defensive coordinator". pantagraph.com. Retrieved December 25, 2022.