University of Delaware Names Henderson Men's Basketball Head Coach

NEWARK, DE (July 21) -- University of Delaware Director of Athletics Edgar Johnson announced Friday that former Duke University assistant coach David Henderson will assume the reigns of Blue Hen men's basketball head coach.

Henderson, who turns 36 today (Friday), succeeds Mike Brey, who resigned one week ago to become the head coach at Notre Dame. He is the 22nd men's basketball coach as the program enters its 96th season. Per University policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

"I'm really excited about being here," said Henderson. "I think it is a great opportunity here at Delaware. I am looking forward to working with the student-athletes, Edgar Johnson and Dr. Roselle. I am looking forward to my first head coaching opportunity and ready to get going."

"Coach Henderson is highly respected in collegiate coaching circles and has been identified as a rising star," said Johnson. "He comes to us highly recommended and it was obvious to us that he had all of the qualities and abilities needed to help our basketball program continue to grow and flourish. We are very pleased he has agreed to join us.

"We wanted to complete the search successfully and quickly," said Johnson. "In anticipation of Coach Brey's resignation, we developed a list of potential candidates. I would like to thank our many friends in the basketball community who helped identify and recommend candidates to us. They were a great help in facilitating the process in a timely manner."

"We are fortunate that several of the most successful basketball coaches and athletics directors were willing to help us with our search," said University President Dr. David P. Roselle. "Their good counsel and the fact that they describe our vacancy as one of the more outstanding opportunities in all of college athletics ensured that we would be successful. Even in the very strong field of candidates they recommended, David Henderson stood out as having all of the attributes needed to build upon the current strengths of the basketball program. We are very pleased to welcome him to the University of Delaware."

While not the first minority head coach in University of Delaware history, Henderson is the first African-American head coach of any sport in UD's 113-year athletics history.

Henderson had served as an assistant coach to Mike Krzyzewski for the last three seasons (1997-2000) at Duke University. Brey had served as an assistant at Duke, but was not with the Blue Devils neither when Henderson was a member of the coaching staff or as a student-athlete (1982-86).

A native of Drewry, NC, Henderson inherits a program that will replace six seniors from last season's 24-8 NIT team, but returns three regular contributors from last year and gains the services of three transfers and a freshman class that Brey called the best in his tenure at Delaware. The Blue Hens were 99-52 in Brey's five seasons and have earned trips to the NCAA Tournament twice and the NIT once in the last three years.

On the hiring of his successor, Brey said, "I am excited for David, but I am more excited for University of Delaware basketball fans. David is a great fit and will certainly continue the UD basketball program's success."

"I am very proud of David Henderson," said Krzyzewski. "I think he is absolutely perfect for Delaware and is ready to be a head coach. He did a fantastic job for me the last three years. He showed a toughness and a competitiveness that will serve him well as a head coach."

Henderson, who is single, graduated from Duke in 1986 with a degree in economics. Upon his graduation, Henderson began his 10-year professional playing career in the Continental Basketball Association before joining the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers. After one season (1988) with Philadelphia, Henderson moved overseas and played eight more seasons in France (1989-90 and 1995), Israel (1991-94 and 1996) and Turkey (1994).

During the 1996-97 academic year, Henderson served as an intern in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) offices and has also worked with the Maryland-based Home Team Sports network (HTS).

As a player at Duke, Henderson finished his four-year career with 1,570 points to rank 20th on the Blue Devils' all-time scoring list. He averaged 12.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game during his 128-game career. He was the co-captain of Duke's 1986 Final Four team, which finished 37-3 in reaching the NCAA title game, and earned ACC All-Tournament honors that season. He was also MVP of the Big Apple Pre-season NIT Tournament that year. Duke was 84-21 during his final three seasons and earned NCAA Tournament bids each of those years (1984, 1985 and 1986) in beginning the Blue Devils' incredible 15-year run.

ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale said of the hiring, "David Henderson was a winner as a key part under Mike Krzyzewski as a player and continued as a vital part as an assistant and has learned from one of the best. David is a 'Blue Chipper' in every way and will continue Mike Brey's success in Blue Hen Country."

The hiring of Henderson marks the third consecutive time a UD men's basketball coach has ties to Duke University. Prior to Brey, Steve Steinwedel served as Blue Hen coach. He had served two seasons as an assistant at Duke under Bill Foster before going to South Carolina as an assistant coach.

The Blue Hens open the 2000 season Nov. 13 in Philadelphia in the Pre-season NIT at Temple.

HENDERSON QUICK FACTS:
David McKinley Henderson
DOB: July 21, 1964
Education: Warren County HS, 1982; Duke University, B.A. Economics, 1986.
College Honors: Co-captain Final Four team, 1985-86; MVP Big Apple Pre-season NIT, 1985. All-ACC Tournament 1986.
Coaching Career: Assistant Coach, Duke University, 1998-2000

University of Delaware Names Henderson Men's Basketball Head Coach

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