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United States Eric Henderson is an American college basketball coach, recognized for transforming programs and achieving consistent success in the Summit League. He is noted for his tactical leadership and player development.
Eric Henderson was promoted to head coach of Jackrabbit men's basketball on March 27, 2019 and enters his sixth season at the helm of the program in 2024-25. He previously spent three years as an assistant at South Dakota State, rising to associate head coach for the 2018-19 campaign.
Eric Henderson, then Head Coach of Men's Basketball at SDSU, was scheduled to be the feature presenter at the 2024 Fall Directors Management Conference.
Eric Henderson has been recognized for his consistent winning at South Dakota State since taking over the program.
Eric Henderson was an assistant coach on the Bison staff after joining NDSU in April 2014, gaining several years of coaching experience.
South Dakota State promoted assistant Eric Henderson to replace coach T.J. Otzelberger.
Eric Henderson discusses creating culture with the SDSU Jackrabbits on the 'Engineering Culture' show, outlining what it takes to build a successful team.
Eric Henderson, who led South Dakota State to two NCAA Tournament appearances, was hired as Drake's head coach.
SDSU basketball coach Eric Henderson shares insights on the future workforce and their influencers at an upcoming summit.
South Dakota State's Eric Henderson, Matthew Mims, and Bryan Petersen all have strong ties to Eastern Iowa, highlighting local connections within the team.
Eric Henderson, born on May 30, 1978, began his coaching career after playing college basketball at Wayne State (NE) under Greg McDermott, where he distinguished himself with 876 rebounds and 160 career steals. He was inducted into the Wayne State College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. His early coaching roles included assistant positions at his alma mater from 2001 to 2003 and a period coaching girls’ basketball at Wayne High School until 2005. Henderson further developed his experience as a graduate manager and learning specialist for the Iowa State men’s basketball team under Greg McDermott from 2006 to 2009. He then led the boys’ basketball program at Burlington Catholic Central High School from 2009 to 2014, also serving as the school’s athletic director and principal during this time.
In 2014, Henderson transitioned back to collegiate coaching as an assistant at North Dakota State, contributing to their 2015 NCAA Tournament appearance. His tenure as an assistant continued at South Dakota State in 2016, where he was promoted to associate head coach for the 2018-19 season. On March 27, 2019, Henderson was named the head coach of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits men’s basketball team. In his inaugural season as head coach (2019-20), he guided the team to a 22-10 record and a share of the Summit League regular season title, earning him the Summit League Coach of the Year award. Under his leadership, the Jackrabbits have demonstrated consistent performance, securing four Summit League regular season titles and two conference tournament championships, resulting in NCAA Tournament appearances in 2022 and 2024.
Henderson’s coaching philosophy emphasizes player development and academic achievement, with his teams regularly achieving semester grade-point averages over 3.30 and producing Academic All-America honorees. Notably, the 2021-22 season marked a historic achievement with a 30-5 overall record and an undefeated 18-0 run in Summit League play, setting a league record for wins in a season. His teams have also shown home-court dominance, with a 59-6 record in Frost Arena during his head coaching tenure. In 2024, one of his former players, Baylor Scheierman, was selected in the NBA Draft, marking a significant milestone for the program under Henderson’s guidance. On March 28, 2025, Henderson accepted the head coaching position at Drake University.
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