Patrick Henry was named Averett University football head coach in March 2020 after serving as an assistant coach since 2012.
Henry originally joined the Averett program in February 2012 as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. 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.
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.
Henry's first season at the helm of the Cougars brought the challenges of a postponed 2020 fall season. However, the Cougars navigated it by holding fall intrasquad scrimmages to prepare for the 2021 spring competition season. Henry notched his first career win as head coach at N.C. Wesleyan College on March 27 in a 33-29 road victory. He coached one D3football All-America First Team selection, five all-conference performers, four all-state selections, two D3football.com Team of the Week selections and one conference rookie of the week pick.
In Henry's second season (and first full season), the Cougars went 5-5 with a 4-4 mark in conference play. Averett set several single-season and single-game offensive records for passing and receiving, as well as several records on defense. Averett produced 10 USA South All-Conference selections, two D3football.com All-Region selections, one CSC Academic All-District selection and two Preseason College Football America Starting Lineup selections. In addition, Averett had three D3football.com Team of the Week selections, three USA South Offensive Player of the Week picks, two Defensive Player of the Week picks, three Offensive Rookie of the Week selections, two Special Teams Player of the Week honors and one Defensive Rookie of the Week.
In Henry's third season, the Cougars made the move to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. The season was highlighted by a comeback win on the road in the final two minutes at Christopher Newport University, a home win over former conference foe Brevard College and a big road win to end the season over rival Ferrum College. Averett had five players earn All-ODAC honors and one player earn Academic All-District accolades from the College Sports Communicators.
Henry's fourth season saw the Cougars begin the season 3-0 with one of the best starts in program history. The Cougars finished 5-5 overall but had several strong individual accomplishments, including producing the ODAC Defensive Player of the Year, the Touchdown Club of Richmond's Defensive Lineman of the Year, four all-region selections and seven all-conference selections.
In his fifth season, Henry's team started the year 2-0 for the second consecutive season. Although injuries at key positions affected the team's full potential, the Cougars produced the ODAC Defensive Rookie of the Year and Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) State Defensive Rookie of the Year, along with five all-conference selections and one all-state selection.
Henry previously served as a graduate assistant coach at Division I Ball State University, where he coached on offense for two years. Prior to that, he was the wide receivers coach at the University of Dayton from 2007-10. Henry also coached at Clarion University as a graduate assistant from 2005-06.
Henry played quarterback at Defiance College from 2001-04. He graduated from Defiance in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in Integrated Social Studies in Secondary Education. He also earned his master's of education from Clarion in 2006.
A native of Avon, Ohio, Henry is married to the former Carrie Wagner. They reside in Danville with their son, Connor, and daughter, Piper.
Â
| PATRICK HENRY'S YEAR-BY-YEAR COACHING RESULTS |
| Season |
Overall |
Conference |
Finish |
Postseason |
| 2020-21 |
1-3 |
1-1 |
2nd East |
--- |
| 2021 |
5-5 |
4-4 |
T-4th |
--- |
| 2022 |
3-7 |
1-6 |
T-6th |
--- |
| 2023 |
5-5 |
2-5 |
6th |
--- |
| 2024 |
3-7 |
1-6 |
7th |
--- |
| 2025 |
|
|
|
|
| Totals |
17-27
(.318) |
9-22
(.290) |
|
|
| Â HEAD COACHING HIGHLIGHTS |
 • 1 D3football.com All-America First Team selection
 • 6 D3football.com All-Region selections
 • 1 ODAC Defensive Player of the Year
 • 1 ODAC Defensive Rookie of the Year
 • 1 VaSID Defensive Rookie of the Year
 • 1 Touchdown Club of Richmond Defensive Lineman of the Year
 • 15 USA South All-Conference selections
 • 17 ODAC All-Conference selections
 • 2 College Football America Preseason Starting Lineup selections
 • 4 Academic All-District selections
 • 6 VaSID All-State selections
 • 8 D3football.com Team of the Week selections
 • 4 ODAC Players of the Week
 • 7 USA South Conference Players of the Week
 • 5 USA South Conference Rookies of the Week |
*Last updated on 5/29/2025
