|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
Henderson to be replaced as head basketball coach
Henderson, 41, who took over as head coach of the program in July 2000, led Blue Hen teams to a six-year record of 85-93 but the team suffered through three losing seasons, including consecutive 20-loss campaigns for the first time in school history the last two years. Delaware posted a record of 9-21 this past season and placed ninth in the Colonial Athletic Association standings with a mark of 4-14. “This is a difficult decision; these decisions always are,” Johnson said during a news conference at the Bob Carpenter Sports/Convocation Center. “I have a great deal of respect for Dave. We've had a great working relationship over the last six years. He put his heart and soul into the program. He loved the program, loved the institution. However, the team's performance over the last two years was not what we had hoped, not what he had hoped. I just felt that the program wasn't headed in the right direction and a change was needed.” A national search for Henderson's replacement will begin immediately. Henderson's departure includes assistant coaches Kenny Blakeney, Darryl Jacobs and Ryan Iversen, Johnson said, adding that the next head coach would be asked to give them first consideration. “I'm looking for a coach, whether it's a head coach or an assistant coach, that has had the experience that is necessary to succeed here at the University of Delaware,” Johnson said. “That they've been involved in basketball at the highest level, in college. That they've had good mentoring on the way, that they've had a record of success.” Henderson, the 22nd head coach in UD men's basketball history, replaced Mike Brey prior to the 2000-01 season after Brey left to take the head coaching position at Notre Dame. Henderson led his first team to a 20-10 record and a second place finish in the America East conference with a 14-4 mark. The Blue Hens advanced to the league tournament championship game before falling to Hofstra. Delaware moved to the Colonial Athletic Association before the 2001-02 season, but Henderson could never match that first-year success. The Hens went 14-16 in 2001-02 and followed with records of 15-14 in Delaware suffered just the third 20-loss season in school history this past winter and lost 20 or more in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. This past season the Hens failed to reach the 10-win mark for the first time since 1981-82. Junior forwards Herb Courtney and Henry Olawoye, who accompanied Johnson at the news conference, expressed disappointment that Henderson had to go and hope that a new coach will turn the team's fortunes around. During Henderson's tenure, Blue Hen teams posted a combined conference regular season record of 53-55 but never finished higher than fifth in the league standings while a CAA member. Delaware also posted a combined postseason record of 6-6 under Henderson but failed to make the league tournament championship game in five seasons in the CAA. A standout collegiate player at Duke from 1982-86, Henderson went on to play professionally for 10 seasons, including one year with the National Basketball Association's Philadelphia 76ers and eight seasons overseas in France, Israel and Turkey. He joined Mike Krzyzewski's staff at Duke and served for three seasons, from 1997-2000, before being hired at Delaware. Delaware will lose two seniors from this past year's team--two-time first team All-CAA forward Harding Nana and four-year standout guard Among the starters expected to return in 2006-07 are rising sophomore guard and CAA All-Rookie selection Zaire Taylor (6.8 ppg, team-high 112 assists), senior guard Calvin Cannon (9.0 ppg), senior center Raphael Madera (4.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg), and junior forwards Courtney (6.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Olawoye (2.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg). Article by Martin Mbugua |
|
|
