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| Patrick Henry, who has been an assistant coach at Averett since 2012, will be an assistant no longer. Averett athletics photo by David Conner II |
Averett athletic director Meg Stevens announced the promotion of long-time assistant Patrick Henry to head coach of the Cougars' football program on Monday as Cleive Adams leaves to pursue another coaching opportunity.
"I am honored and humbled to be the football head coach at Averett University," Henry said. "I want to thank our director of athletics Meg Stevens and our president Dr. Tiffany Franks for this opportunity. Words cannot describe how excited I am. I love our football team — 'Team 21'— as well as our coaching staff and this university."
Henry becomes the fourth head coach of the Averett football program, which began play in 2000 and will compete in its 21st season this fall. Henry's elevation to head coach provides continuity for a program that has been on the rise. The Cougars have gone 21-9 over the past three seasons while finishing second in the USA South Conference each year.
Henry has been with Averett's football program longer than any other current full-time coach, joining the program two years before Adams was hired. Henry originally came to Averett in February 2012 as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach under then-head coach Mike Dunlevy. He also served as a wide receivers coach during the spring of 2014 before taking over the recruiting coordinator and offensive line coach duties in 2014. His hard work and dedication earned him the promotion to assistant head coach in 2015. Henry worked with the wide receivers in 2017 and diversified his knowledge by leading the defensive tackles group in 2018 before being named the offensive coordinator prior to the 2019 season.
"We are thrilled to name Patrick Henry as our new football head coach," Stevens said. "Coach Henry has proven his loyalty to Averett having been here for more than eight years. As the assistant head coach since 2015, Coach Henry is ready to take on the role of head coach. We are excited to see what new heights the program can reach under his leadership."
Henry's leadership roles have extended beyond the football field at Averett. He's made an impact on the university's campus as a member of Averett's university staff council, serving as president for the final year of his term. He also serves on academic advising and retention committees, oversees study hall programs for Averett's athletics programs and helped establish Averett's chapter of the Chi Alpha Sigma student-athlete honor society in 2015-16.
"Coach Henry has earned this opportunity and we are excited for him and our program," Franks said. "We know that Averett football will continue to develop great young men on the field, in the classroom and in life."
Prior to coming to Averett in 2012, Henry served as a graduate assistant coach at Division I Ball State, where he coached on offense for two years. Before his time at Ball State, Henry was the wide receivers coach at Dayton from 2007-10. Henry also coached at Division II Clarion University as a graduate assistant from 2005-06. A native of Avon, Ohio, Henry played quarterback at Division III Defiance from 2001-04. He graduated from Defiance in 2005 and earned his master's degree from Clarion in 2006.
Henry said he's been grateful for the support of his family, including his wife Carrie, son Connor and daughter Piper — who have been mainstays at Averett football games during his time — and his parents who have attended every home and away football game since Henry arrived in 2012.
Henry is excited to continue building for the 2020 football season. With a talented roster of student-athletes returning and a strong incoming recruiting class, the Cougars have their eyes set on returning to the top of the conference standings.
"We have a team here in Danville that we are very excited about," Henry said. "We are hungry and have a number of goals we want to achieve."
As he turns his attention to taking the reins of the Averett football program, Henry also wanted to thank everyone who helped get him there. He is appreciative of those who have made an impact on his coaching career, including Dunlevy and Adams, who provided him with opportunities to grow professionally and personally within the Averett football program.
"I am thankful to Coach Adams for becoming my mentor, allowing me to grow and putting me in position to accept this challenge," Henry said.
Adams departs following a successful six-season stint as head coach, where he helped turn the Averett football program around into a contender in the USA South Conference. Adams compiled a 30-29 overall record with a 23-19 mark in conference play while leading the Cougars to three consecutive second-place finishes in the league standings.
"I want to thank Dr. Tiffany Franks, Meg Stevens, my coaching staff, team and the entire Averett University family for an amazing six years," Adams said. "I appreciate your acceptance, patience and overall love. Averett will forever be a huge part of me and I will never forget the time I spent with an incredible group of people."
Stevens was appreciative of Adams' efforts during his time at Averett.
"He did a tremendous job helping develop our young men on and off the field, and he leaves our football program in a terrific position moving forward under Coach Henry," Stevens said. "The future of Averett football is bright."
Averett is scheduled to open the 2020 season at home on Sept. 5 against Ferrum.