In this age of rapid technology development, experience does still matter. That’s especially true for new Hampton University Athletic Director, Anthony Henderson.
“I’ve been at the FCS level. I’ve been at the FBS level. I’ve been in the Ivy League,” said Henderson at his introductory press conference.
Hampton’s new AD officially returned to the place he once called home as a former member of the 1990s Pirates football team.
“It’s a very emotional day, but it’s a good emotional day,” he said. “Being back here…I don’t have words for it. I really can’t explain it. I never thought when I left here in 2000 that I would be returning here as the athletic director.”
Institutional love aside, Henderson also brings with him two decades of experience in college athletics administration. He most recently worked at Yale as its deputy athletics director, but he also made previous stops at Old Dominion, William & Mary and Akron. And of course he has HBCU experience, both as a Pirate and through a stint at the MEAC office.
That means that he’s a well-seasoned leader who knows both the area and the industry.
“There’s not a lot I haven’t seen,” said Henderson. “The question is, how do we take all of those things and adapt them to Hampton?”
He seemingly answered his only question, at least in part, as he mentioned a few of the initial steps he plans to take. First and foremost is listening.
“He’s already met with the student-athletes, he met with the coaches and he’s just already starting to bond,” said Hampton head football coach Robert Prunty.
Listening to the ideas and concerns of coaches, student athletes, staff and the general community will help Henderson build a strong administration and department, especially in a rapidly changing college athletics landscape.
“Getting around, figuring out what works, what doesn’t,” said Henderson about his listening tour. “Another big thing is NIL. We don’t have anything in place right now with NIL.”
NIL, of course, is one of the biggest change-makers in college sports today, and every institution and department has to have a plan in order to attract talent and grow.
Fortunately, Henderson has a strong background in fundraising, so he understands the nature of the beast.
“It’s a renewed focus for us in college athletics to take a look at going back and seeing what you can bring to those schools,” he said.
Congrats to new Hampton Athletic Director, Anthony Henderson.
