Aaron Henry
Current position
TitleDefensive coordinator
TeamIllinois
ConferenceBig Ten
Biographical details
Born (1988-11-28) November 28, 1988 (age 35)
Immokalee, Florida, U.S.
Playing career
2007–2011Wisconsin
2012Oakland Raiders*
Position(s)Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2014–2015Arkansas (GA)
2016Rutgers (DB)
2017NC State (S)
2018–2019NC State (CB)
2020Vanderbilt (CB)
2021–2022Illinois (DB)
2023–presentIllinois (DC)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards

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.

Playing career

High School

Henry 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

He 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

In 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

Arkansas

In 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

Henry spent the 2016 season as the defensive back's coach for Rutgers under Chris Ash.[1][6]

NC State

In 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

In 2020 he was the cornerback's coach for Vanderbilt.[9][10]

Illinois

In 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

  1. ^ a b "College football: Immokalee's Aaron Henry named assistant at Rutgers". www.naplesnews.com. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  2. ^ a b "College football: Immokalee grad, former Badgers star Aaron Henry coaching at Arkansas". www.naplesnews.com. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  3. ^ "Aaron Henry | Football". Wisconsin Badgers. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  4. ^ "Player Profile: S Aaron Henry". Las Vegas Raiders. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  5. ^ Hughes, Elliot (2012-05-10). "Q&A: Aaron Henry on taking next step with Raiders". The Badger Herald. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  6. ^ a b NJ.com, Dan Duggan | NJ Advance Media for (2015-12-28). "RU to hire Arkansas GA Aaron Henry as asst. DB coach". nj. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  7. ^ "NC State hires Henry to coach safeties". ESPN.com. 2017-01-20. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  8. ^ NJ.com, Keith Sargeant | NJ Advance Media for (2017-01-16). "RU assistant DB coach Aaron Henry leaves to join NC St". nj. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  9. ^ "Aaron Henry joining Vanderbilt's staff". PackPride.com. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  10. ^ "TheWolfpackCentral - Another defensive coach leaving NC State football". ncstate.rivals.com. 2020-01-18. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  11. ^ "Aaron Henry named FootballScoop Defensive Backs Coach of the Year". WCIA.com. 2023-01-06. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  12. ^ Kimball, Anderson. "Aaron Henry promoted to be Illinois football's defensive coordinator". pantagraph.com. Retrieved 2022-12-25.

External links

Current defensive coordinators of the Big Ten Conference
Categories