North Carolina State University Athletics
Henry Joins Wolfpack Football Staff
1/19/2017 11:45:00 AM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State head football coach Dave Doeren has announced that Aaron Henry has joined his staff and will coach the Wolfpack safeties. Henry, who has coached in the Big Ten and SEC, was recruited by and played under Doeren at WIsconsin.
"I've known Aaron since his junior year of high school and I've proudly watched his career as a coach," said Doeren. "He's a really charismatic, intelligent young coach who is experienced beyond his years and I know that he will bring great enthusiasm and expertise to our defense. He's worked with some tremendous defensive backs, head coaches and coordinators and has great recruiting ties in the state of Florida that will really help us."
Henry comes to NC State after spending last season as the cornerbacks coach at Rutgers, where he was hired by Doeren's college teammate and roommate, Chris Ash. At Rutgers, Henry worked with honorable mention All-Big Ten cornerback Blessuan Austin, who ranked second in the Big Ten and 10th nationally with 1.4 passes defended per game in 2016. Â
"I am beyond excited to get to NC State," said Henry. "Although Coach Doeren left Wisconsin after my junior year, he's been a tremendous mentor to me throughout my career as a player and coach.
"The Wolfpack was a top 25 defense last season and I'm looking forward to working with that staff and helping us get even better. The young men that I'm going to have an opportunity to coach are very talented. I can't wait to get started."
An Immokalee, Fla., native, Henry spent two seasons as a defensive graduate assistant focusing on the secondary at Arkansas prior to his stint with the Scarlet Knights. Working with his collegiate head coach, Bret Bielema, the Razorbacks picked up five Southeastern Conference victories in 2015 to earn a berth in the Liberty Bowl. In 2014, Arkansas became the first unranked team in college football history to post back-to-back shutouts against ranked opponents and won the Texas Bowl over Texas.
Henry played at Wisconsin from 2007-11, appearing in 52 games and starting 32 contests. He tallied 181 career tackles, including seven for loss with 4.5 sacks, seven interceptions and 23 passes defended, while helping lead the Badgers to three consecutive Big Ten titles, including victories in each of the first two Big Ten Championship Games. During his career, Wisconsin became the first Big Ten program since 19776-78 to play in the Rose Bowl in three straight years.
A first-team All-Big Ten performer as a senior, Henry started all 14 games and finished the year with 67 tackles, including three for loss with one sack, four interceptions and seven passes defended. In 2010, he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors after tallying 58 tackles, three fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, two interceptions and nine passes defended. A 2011 quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, he was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten performer.
In 2007, Henry was named an honorable mention Freshman All-American and was a Freshman All-Big Ten first-team honoree. He sat out the 2008 season while recovering from an injury and returned in 2009 to play in all 13 games. Following his collegiate career, he spent time in training camp with the Oakland Raiders.
Henry graduated from Wisconsin with a bachelor's degree in consumer affairs in business management in 2011. He earned his master's degree in sports management from Arkansas in 2015.
Henry's Coaching History:
"I've known Aaron since his junior year of high school and I've proudly watched his career as a coach," said Doeren. "He's a really charismatic, intelligent young coach who is experienced beyond his years and I know that he will bring great enthusiasm and expertise to our defense. He's worked with some tremendous defensive backs, head coaches and coordinators and has great recruiting ties in the state of Florida that will really help us."
Henry comes to NC State after spending last season as the cornerbacks coach at Rutgers, where he was hired by Doeren's college teammate and roommate, Chris Ash. At Rutgers, Henry worked with honorable mention All-Big Ten cornerback Blessuan Austin, who ranked second in the Big Ten and 10th nationally with 1.4 passes defended per game in 2016. Â
"I am beyond excited to get to NC State," said Henry. "Although Coach Doeren left Wisconsin after my junior year, he's been a tremendous mentor to me throughout my career as a player and coach.
"The Wolfpack was a top 25 defense last season and I'm looking forward to working with that staff and helping us get even better. The young men that I'm going to have an opportunity to coach are very talented. I can't wait to get started."
An Immokalee, Fla., native, Henry spent two seasons as a defensive graduate assistant focusing on the secondary at Arkansas prior to his stint with the Scarlet Knights. Working with his collegiate head coach, Bret Bielema, the Razorbacks picked up five Southeastern Conference victories in 2015 to earn a berth in the Liberty Bowl. In 2014, Arkansas became the first unranked team in college football history to post back-to-back shutouts against ranked opponents and won the Texas Bowl over Texas.
Henry played at Wisconsin from 2007-11, appearing in 52 games and starting 32 contests. He tallied 181 career tackles, including seven for loss with 4.5 sacks, seven interceptions and 23 passes defended, while helping lead the Badgers to three consecutive Big Ten titles, including victories in each of the first two Big Ten Championship Games. During his career, Wisconsin became the first Big Ten program since 19776-78 to play in the Rose Bowl in three straight years.
A first-team All-Big Ten performer as a senior, Henry started all 14 games and finished the year with 67 tackles, including three for loss with one sack, four interceptions and seven passes defended. In 2010, he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors after tallying 58 tackles, three fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, two interceptions and nine passes defended. A 2011 quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, he was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten performer.
In 2007, Henry was named an honorable mention Freshman All-American and was a Freshman All-Big Ten first-team honoree. He sat out the 2008 season while recovering from an injury and returned in 2009 to play in all 13 games. Following his collegiate career, he spent time in training camp with the Oakland Raiders.
Henry graduated from Wisconsin with a bachelor's degree in consumer affairs in business management in 2011. He earned his master's degree in sports management from Arkansas in 2015.
Henry's Coaching History:
| Years | Position | School |
| 2017 | Safeties Coach | NC State |
| 2016 | Assistant Defensive Backs | Rutgers |
| 2014-15 | Secondary Graduate Assistant | Arkansas |
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