Henry Retiring after 42 Years as Michigan Track and Field Coach
6/14/2022 2:00:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan track and field assistant coach James Henry announced Tuesday (June 14) that he is retiring after a decorated 42-year coaching career with the program.
Henry, who was hired as the first Black head coach of a Michigan varsity athletics team in 1985 after four years as a U-M sprints and jumps assistant coach, became the winningest women's track and field coach in Big Ten history in 33 years at the helm of the women's track and field program and another four seasons sharing head coach duties with Jerry Clayton for the combined men's and women's program.
"My time at Michigan has truly been a labor of love -- from student-athlete, to assistant coach, to the first Black head coach that the University ever hired, to co-head coach, and back to assistant coach. I guess that's what they call 'full circle.'" said Henry. "I have had the pleasure of coaching numerous Big Ten and national championship athletes, and even being able to coach athletes at the Olympics. I have taken the most pride in watching so many of them do even more amazing things in their professional careers and lives beyond the track. I appreciate all the opportunities that have been afforded me over the 46 years I have been associated with Michigan track and field, and I wish the program nothing but success moving forward."
He served in 2021-22 as an assistant coach under director of track and field/cross country Kevin Sullivan.
"Coach Henry's Michigan career encompasses both his coaching legacy and his time as a student-athlete here, and there's something to be said about someone that has spent four-plus decades at one institution," Sullivan said. "You just don't see that a lot anymore, and it says a lot about the type of person he is, the coach he is, and the impact that he's had on young people's lives. We have all the banners and records and championships that show part of that legacy, but when you see what the young women who have been a part of his program over the years have gone on to do beyond their athletic careers, that truly shows what a positive impact he's had here at Michigan."
Among all University of Michigan head coaches in school history, only wrestling's Cliff Keen at 42 years and softball's Carol Hutchins at 38 years are longer-tenured.
"James Henry has inspired generations of young people in his over four decades as a coach here at Michigan," said Warde Manuel, the Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics. "His desire to help each of his student-athletes become the best versions of themselves is as true to our 'Leaders and Best' philosophy as his teams' many athletic successes at the Big Ten, NCAA and international levels. Many have and will continue to follow in his footsteps as the first and longest-tenured Black head coach at Michigan. He is a singular figure in Michigan Athletics history, and on behalf of the department, I thank him for all his contributions to the University of Michigan and its student-athletes and wish him a happy retirement."
A testament to his longevity, both Manuel and Sullivan competed on the U-M men's track and field team while Henry was serving as the women's head coach.
Under his leadership, the Wolverines won a Big Ten-record 16 team titles between the indoor and outdoor seasons, and earned a pair of third-place NCAA Championships finishes among eight national top-10 team showings. He was 13 times named the Big Ten Coach of the Year and six times named the Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year.
After leading the Michigan women to their first-ever Big Ten Outdoor Championships team title in 1993, the Wolverines were a regular fixture at or near the top of the leaderboard. Of his 16 Big Ten team titles, 10 came in years when Michigan swept both the indoor and outdoor crowns – 1994, 1998, 2002, 2003 and 2016.
Michigan achieved its high-water mark in NCAA Championships competition during a five-year streak from 2005 through 2009. Under his guidance, the Wolverines racked up nine top-15 finishes, including a string of four straight top-10 showings in 2007 and 2008 that included third-place finishes at the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships and 2008 NCAA Indoor Championships.
Powering that success were multiple generations of Wolverines in five different decades who accrued 16 national event titles, 193 All-America honors and 220 Big Ten titles.
Three among those student-athletes who he directly coached -- Nicole Forrester, Tiffany (Ofili) Porter and Cindy (Ofili) Sember -- went on to compete at a combined six Olympic Games, with six additional Olympic appearances from student-athletes from other event groups.
For all of the success his Wolverines achieved on the track and in the field, Henry has always prided himself most on preparing his student-athletes to realize and reach their full potential once their athletic careers concluded.
During his time at Michigan, 11 women earned the Big Ten Medal of Honor in recognition of their accomplishments in competition, in the classroom and in the community.
Henry's teams were annually recognized by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association and its precursor organizations for their collective efforts in the classroom.
Michigan student-athletes accumulated three Academic All-America of the Year honors, 20 Academic All-America honors, 111 USTFCCCA All-Academic honors, 147 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar honors and more than 600 Big Ten All-Academic honors.
Prior to assuming head coaching duties, Henry was an assistant coach from 1981-84, and before that was a standout jumper for the Wolverines from 1977-80. He helped the Wolverines to three team titles during his undergraduate competition career and won the 1980 outdoor Big Ten long jump title. To this day he still ranks No. 4 on the all-time U-M long jump list indoors and No. 7 on the outdoor list. Â
Assistant coach Steven Rajewsky will assume responsibility for the women's sprints and hurdles event group on an interim basis while a search is conducted for the vacant position on Sullivan's coaching staff. Â
