Jim Henry Named University of Denver Head Coach

DENVER, March 12. THE University of Denver has named Jim Henry as its new head men and women’s swimming and diving coach, it was announced today by Director of Athletics and Recreation Dr. M. Dianne Murphy.

Henry comes to the University of Denver from Southern Methodist University (SMU), where he has served as assistant men’s swim coach for the past four years.

“We are extremely pleased to introduce Jim Henry as our new head men and women’s swimming and diving coach,” Dr. Murphy said. “Jim has all of the necessary qualities that we were looking for in a new coach. He’s a great leader, an outstanding recruiter, and relates well to student-athletes. We are really looking forward to having Jim lead our swimming and diving program.”

Henry succeeds long-time Denver swimming and diving coach, Jim Bain, who is retiring after a successful 32-year career in Pioneer country. Henry also becomes just the second coach in Denver history to head both the men and women’s swimming and diving programs. He will take over the Pioneer swimming and diving program on April 1, 2003.

A three-time NCAA national champion and four-year letterwinner at the University of Texas, Henry received a bachelor of science degree in speech in 1990 and was a team captain and All-American in the 400 IM his senior year. The Longhorns won the Southwest Conference Championship (SWC) each of Henry's four years and were NCAA champions in 1988, 1989 and 1990. A nine-time SWC finalist, Henry also earned the Bob Cone Spirit Award three times from 1988-1990.

Henry, who also served as recruiting coordinator and camp director at SMU, enjoyed his finest season at SMU in 2001-02. He helped the Mustangs finish 22nd at the NCAA Championships, and played a key role in five individual All-American performances. SMU also won their sixth consecutive Western Athletic Conference (WAC) crown.

In 2000-01, Henry enjoyed a successful inaugural campaign that saw the Mustangs dominate the WAC, winning every event at the WAC Championships thanks in large part to Henry's assistance. Behind Henry's work with SMU head coach Eddie Sinnott, the Mustangs sent four competitors to the NCAA Championships after sweeping the individual awards in the WAC.

Henry came to the SMU program in 1999 from the Allen (Texas) Independent School District, where he served as high school swimming coach the previous year. During that time, he was also the development coach for the City of Richardson (Texas) swim team and helped it become a top-10 team in Texas.

The former Richardson Berkner High School standout returned to the Lone Star State after coaching at The Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., from 1995-98. Henry forged a 28-2 dual meet record, and led Peddie to the 1998 Junior National Team Championship and four Eastern Interscholastic Championships from 1996-1998. In addition, Peddie earned a fourth place finish at the 1997 U.S. Nationals and was also second at the U.S. Open that year.

Henry’s 1996 team yielded six U.S. Olympic Trial qualifiers and he developed 31 high school All-Americans from 1996-1998.

Henry made his coaching debut with the City of Richardson Swim Team in 1991 and served as an age group coach until 1995. He coached three state record holders and led his team to a third-place TAGS finish.
The youngest of seven children, all swimmers, Henry was born Jan. 8, 1968 in St. Louis, Mo. His brothers John (Texas '81) and Pat (Texas A&M '83) also swam at the collegiate level. He is married to Heather Hoskins Henry, a former swimmer at Kansas. The couple has a son, Aidan, born on July 16.

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