David Henderson, who was named head coach of the University of Delaware men's basketball team on July 21, has been busy assembling a coaching staff, getting to know this year's players and recruiting players for next year.

This whirlwind of activity is the aftermath of former UD coach Mike Brey's resignation and move to Notre Dame.

Henderson's own credentials include playing college basketball under Mike Krzyzewski at Duke University, where he was co-captain of Duke's NCAA Final Four team in 1985-86 and was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference tournament team in 1986. After graduation with a bachelor's degree in economics, he played professional basketball for 10 years before returning to the Duke program as an assistant coach in 1998.

"I am very proud of David Henderson," Coach 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."

Coach Henderson recently took time out from a fast-paced schedule to discuss his playing career and his plans for the UD program.

When did you first realize you had a passion for the game of basketball?

When I was 6 years old. I followed my older brothers to the neighborhood playground. I wanted to hang out with the big guys. They only put me in when they needed a body, but I was just happy to be there.

What is it about the game of basketball that you find attractive?

Basketball allows for creativity; you get a chance to express yourself on the court. Plus, it is a game in which you have to learn to work together as a team. It is exciting to bring people from different backgrounds together to work toward a common goal.

Then, there's the aspect of the game where you have to think. The game is a challenge. You can't just throw the ball up there; you have to have a good understanding of what you're doing.

What was it like playing for a major program like Duke, and what did you learn from that experience?

Playing for Duke was a great experience for me. I grew up watching the Atlantic Coast Conference, and I always wanted to play in the ACC. And, I was excited about playing for Coach K.

We had a difficult time my freshman year. We lost, and I wasn't used to losing. The pivotal point in the season came in the last game when we lost badly to Virginia, with [All-America center] Ralph Sampson. As a team, we banded together after that. We vowed to train hard over the summer. We started winning, and that was the beginning of the great Duke program we have now.

As pioneers, we experienced both sides, the losing and the winning, so we have a special appreciation for the program.

What was it like playing professional basketball, both in the NBA and internationally?

Professional basketball is basketball at its highest level, and I was excited to prove to myself that I could do it. And, playing one season for the Philadelphia 76ers and several in Europe, I did that. Basketball opened a lot of doors for me; it enabled me to see a great deal of the world. It can be a great vehicle if used properly.

But, the professional game is very much a business, and, sometimes, that can take the fun out of the competition.

Who were the major influences on your career in basketball, and why?

Coach K. was a major influence, but also my high school coach, Carl Spraggins. He talked to me about college, and encouraged me to think about college basketball and scholarship opportunities. I came from a small town [Drewry, N.C.] and not a lot of people had gone away to college. It wasn't like New York City, where players would compete in college and then come back to the community every summer. We didn't have that kind of example.

As a foundation, I had a strong family that supported me, and teachers who encouraged me. They always told me to excel academically, and they convinced me that whatever I wanted to accomplish, I could.

When did you first realize you would be interested in coaching?

I've always told myself that when I lose the passion to do something, I should move on to something else. I started to lose the passion to play, I decided to take a year off to make sure that was real. After a year in which I only played about four times, I realized I didn't want to play any longer.

But, I still loved the game, I still wanted to be a part of the game and I wanted to work with young people. We all need direction, and I see coaching as a way to both be involved with basketball and also to touch young people's lives.

Before being named head coach, did you have any knowledge of the University of Delaware men's basketball program?

Yes, absolutely. I followed Mike Brey, of course, because he was part of the Duke family. I knew that Mike had generated a lot of excitement and had ignited interest in basketball at UD. He did a great job reaching out to the community. I also knew UD had a tremendous president in Dr. Roselle.

I got a chance to see the excitement firsthand when Duke played in an NCAA regional tournament with Delaware. You could tell the Delaware fans were really excited about it.

So, I was aware of Delaware's following and also of its overall tradition of excellence in athletics.

What did you find attractive about the University of Delaware position?

From a distance, I could see that Delaware was becoming a basketball school in addition to a football school. That's important, because when you are a part of a program, you want to make sure there is a focus on that sport.

Also, I interviewed with President Roselle, [Director of Athletics] Edgar Johnson and [Senior Associate Director of Athletics] Mary Ann Hitchens, and I was very impressed. I'm a people person. When you are in a job like this, the people you are associated with make a big difference.

The deciding factor was when Roselle took me to see the campus. I was very impressed with just how beautiful the campus is.

Describe the whirlwind of a week that led to your hiring.

It all happened so quickly. Coach K. called on a Monday and said Delaware wanted to talk with me. I was on a recruiting trip to Augusta, Ga., and was preparing to fly to Las Vegas. Delaware called Monday afternoon and said they wanted to schedule an interview Tuesday, so I postponed the Las Vegas trip, then flew to Philadelphia to interview near the airport, then flew on to Las Vegas.

I got in at 1 or 2 a.m., and was in a gym the next morning. I had to get right back to work for Duke. That afternoon, I got the call offering me the job. I was very excited and accepted.

Then, I caught a red-eye to the East Coast. I stopped in Raleigh-Durham to get appropriate clothes for the press conference, then flew to Philadelphia. I was exhausted.

What is your impression of the UD team you have inherited?

I like the team. They're all good guys. They want to compete in a winning environment. I'm really looking forward to the season and am really excited about this group of guys.

How have the players reacted to the coaching change?

I feel good about it. We have five freshmen, so naturally there was some uncertainty. The coach they knew is now in South Bend, at Notre Dame. But, as we've been able to spend time together, they're more comfortable with me and I'm more comfortable with them. They understand what I want to get done.

You had to assemble a coaching staff. How difficult was that, and how do you feel about the people you will be working with?

It was difficult in some ways, and not so difficult in others. Through years in basketball, you know people and you have a network.

With Billy Martin, there was a relationship there. He had been coaching in high school in North Carolina for nearly 20 years, and he was ready for an opportunity like this.

Josh Oppenheimer I knew from playing in Europe. We had kept in touch, and we had seen each other on the road while he was with Duquesne.

And, Tyrone Perry had an opportunity to join Coach Brey at Notre Dame. I had to ask a couple of times, 'Are you sure?' But, he played here and has strong feelings for Delaware.

The staff gets along very well.

How do you sell the University of Delaware when recruiting players?

Delaware is no longer a secret; people are familiar with Delaware. A lot of parents are concerned about academics, and Delaware has a terrific reputation academically. We have a great basketball-academics package to offer.

More and more kids are seeing that bigger is not always better for your particular situation. And, when they see the campus, it sells itself.

As a former student-athlete, do you offer recruits any special advice?

I tell them it is a big decision, a decision about where you are going to spend the next four years of your life. I tell them they need to get to know the people they will be playing for and with. This is a commitment between the two of us, and you shouldn't make a commitment to people you don't know. You can make a quick decision, and then realize the school is not what you thought it was.

I tell them to visit the campus, meet the players, see the academic side of it, as it really is and not as part of a pre-packaged recruiting tour. I want them to form their opinion based on something real.

 What are your goals for the 2000-2001 season?

The first thing we want to accomplish is to become a team. We don't have an identity out there at this point. We have to find out who we are. That's the first order of business. Then there will be intermediate goals. Of course, everyone wants to win when they're competing at this level. Everyone wants to win the conference and go to the NCAA tournament. But, we can't get ahead of ourselves. We have to take care of the steps in between.

What is the future of Blue Hen basketball under David Henderson?

I want the fans to enjoy watching us play, and I want us to play an exciting style. At Duke, we led the nation in scoring and also had some of the top defenses. Defense wins ball games--good, aggressive defense. And, I want us to compete every night.

When a player makes a mistake, I don't want him looking over his shoulder to see if I will be taking him out of the game. We all make mistakes. What's important to me is what you do after the mistake. I was a player, and I remember the things I liked and didn't like about coaches. Basketball's a game, and it should be fun.

I'm really excited about the atmosphere here. The team is getting tremendous support, and the fans are fantastic. We need that to continue.

The students are an important part of our fan base. I would like to see our students develop their own identity here. It is a chance for them to be creative, to gain national recognition of their own and to be a part of the team. They really are the Sixth Man out there.