FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 17, 2012) – Kentucky State University’s Director of Athletics, Dr. Denisha L. Hendricks, announced today the hiring of Rob Henry as KSU’s new head baseball coach.

“We are very excited about Mr. Henry joining our staff,” said Hendricks. “He brings with him a wealth of experience in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Divisions I, and II, as well as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).”

Henry comes to KSU from Asbury University (KY), where he served as the Assistant Baseball Coach for the 2011 season. During his time at Asbury, Henry helped lead the Eagles to their first Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) Tournament Championship and qualified for the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in program history. Henry also coached eight All-KIAC selections, three Gold Glove winners and the KIAC Player of the Year.

"I am honored and blessed to be named the Head Baseball Coach at Kentucky State University,” said Henry. “I am excited about the vision Dr. Hendricks and her administration share for the athletic department, and I look forward to working with a great staff and student-athletes.”

Henry began his college-coaching career at Kentucky Wesleyan College (1997-2001) where he worked with the infielders and assisted with batting techniques.

From 2002-2006, Henry served as the top assistant coach at Spalding University. He joined Spalding’s staff in the school’s second season with baseball and was responsible for coordinating scouting reports and fundraising activities, as well as coaching the infielders and hitters. During his tenure, the Pelicans went to the NAIA World Series three times (2002, 2003 and 2005), and Henry coached 43 All-Conference selections, three KIAC Players of the Year, 20 All-Americans and the 2003 NAIA National Player of the Year.

“I’m looking forward to working with our student-athletes to develop a championship program on and off the field,” stated Henry. “We are competing in an excellent conference in the SIAC, and we will work hard to be a championship team.”

Henry also has coaching experience at the NCAA Division I level, having served as the Associate Head Baseball Coach at Cleveland State University from 2006-2011. The Vikings won over twenty games (2008-2009) for the first time in eight years and produced six All-Horizon League selections, as well as three draft picks. In his role with the Vikings, Henry also assisted with academic advising and eligibility and helped improved the team’s Academic Progress Rate (APR) from 880 to 959.

A Lexington, KY native, Henry has served as an instructor for the University of Kentucky Baseball Camp each year since 1999. He has also served as an instructor for camps at Mississippi State University (2009), Derby City Summer Collegiate League teams (2002, 2003 and 2005) and has presented at several other camps and clinics.

A member of the American Baseball Coaches Association since 1998, Henry has published two articles (Collegiate Baseball 2006 and Coaching Digest May 2011) and served as a professional scout for the Kansas City Royals (2006).

Henry earned his Bachelor’s in History and Secondary Education (minors in English and Physical Education) from Kentucky Wesleyan College and a Master’s in General History (emphasis in United Sates History) from Western Kentucky University. He currently lives in Lexington, KY with his wife, Lisa, and son, Joshua.