Honors & Accomplishments
• Has been on staff for four league championships, a Division III national title and a runner-up finish.
• Been on the sidelines for a pair of FBS Bowl Games, including a Liberty Bowl title.
• Coached more than a dozen all-league selections.
Recruiting Areas
• Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Ohio (Northwest)
Coaching Experience
• Assistant Coach, Cornell University (2017-present)
• Bill Walsh Minority NFL Coaching Fellowship, New York Giants (Summer 2012)
• Assistant Coach, Wayne State University (2015-17)
• Co-Offensive Coordinator, Ohio Northern University (2014-15)
• Offensive Coordinator and Special Team Coordinator, Urbana University (2013-14)
• Assistant Coach and Special Teams Coordinator, Davidson College (2011-12)
• Assistant Coach and Special Teams Coordinator, Princeton University (2007-11)
• Assistant Coach and Special Teams Coordinator, Wayne State University (2004-06)
• Assistant Coach, University of Mount Union (2002-03)
• Graduate Assistant Coach, University of Louisville (2000-02)
Playing Experience
• Central Washington University (1992-96)
• All-league wide receiver as a senior
• Caught 95 passes for 1,704 yards and 20 touchdowns in his career
• Won a share of the NAIA national championship as senior captain
• Member of the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame
Education
• B.A., Travel/Tourism Management, Central Washington (1996)
• M.A., Health and Fitness, Louisville (2002)
At Cornell
With nearly two decades of coaching experience and a national title ring in his possession, E.J. Henderson, took over as the Big Red’s defensive backs coach in May 2017. With a prior stop as an assistant coach and special teams coordinator at Princeton, Henderson brings in a knowledge and understanding of Ivy League football that will help Cornell get further along in its quest to claim its first conference title since 1990.
In his first season on the Big Red sidelines, the Cornell defense led the Ivy League in fewest passing yards allowed, a mark that ranked 32nd nationally. Henderson assisted in the development of two-time first-team All-Ivy safety Nick Gesualdi, as well as All-Ivy corners DJ Woullard and David Jones. The team's 50 passes defended matched the 2016 season for the most by a Big Red team in the last decade.
The 2018 season saw the continued emergence of David Jones, a second team All-Ivy performer who added three more interceptions to his career totals, while Jelani Taylor played at an all-conference level while pacing the team in tackles.
Taylor was a first-team All-Ivy pick in 2019 as one of the team's co-captains and was also a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, the "Academic Heisman". Jones was named to the second team, joining Taylor as the team's top two tacklers. With 45 total passes defended, the Big Red has now posted three of the best four totals in that category this decade under Henderson's tutelage.
Prior to Cornell
Henderson has more than a decade of experience as a coordinator on both offense and special teams with a number of stops at various levels. He was part of a staff at Mount Union that claimed the 2002 NCAA Division III title and reached the title game the following year, was part of two staffs that earned invites to FCS Bowl games with a Liberty Bowl ring, and has mentored more than a dozen all-conference performers, including Super Bowl champion Deion Branch. As an assistant coach, his team have gone 104-86 (.547) with four league crowns.
Henderson most recently spent two seasons as wide receivers coach at Wayne State, his second stint there that spanned five seasons. In 2016, he tutored two-time all-league selection Jamel Hicks and team offensive rookie of the year Darece Roberson Jr., as well as all-league pick Manny Mendoza in 2015. In both seasons, his charges ranked among the nation’s top 20 in yards per completion. During his first stay at Wayne State, Henderson served as wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator mentoring All-American place-kicker David Chudzinski, who was WSU's all-time leading scoring kicker when he graduated. Henderson also coached an all-league wide receiver for the Warriors for three consecutive seasons in Ronald Williams (2004), Nick Body (2005) and Jake Weingartz (2006).
Henderson spent the 2014 season as offensive coordinator at Ohio Northern, helping the team to a 7-3 mark that included wins in its final five games. The squad averaged 417 yards of offense per game and over 30 points per contest with wide receiver Devon Price earning all-league honors after hauling in a conference-best 65 receptions.
In 2013, Henderson was the offensive coordinator and special teams coordinator at Urbana University. There he mentored first-team all-league pick Joe Webb as part of a 7-4 season that included a 7-2 mark in conference play. Webb broke or tied school single-season records for catches (80), receiving yards (1,164) and receiving touchdowns (12). Henderson oversaw an offense that averaged over 30 points per game and 429 yards per contest directed by league offensive player of the year and regional finalist for national player of the year, quarterback D.J. Mendenhall and his school-record 3,268 passing yards and 32 touchdowns.
Before joining the Blue Knights, Henderson spent two years (2011-12) as the wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator at NCAA Division I Davidson. He tutored All-American receiver Lanny Funsten, who became the school's all-time leader in receptions (229), receiving yards (2,770) and receiving touchdowns (20). Tight end Reese Williams also captured first-team all-league accolades during his time there.
Henderson spent four seasons at Princeton (2007-2010) and was the Tigers defensive backs coach his first two years before spending his final two seasons in New Jersey coaching the running backs. He also served as PU's special teams coordinator. In 2010, he guided All-Ivy League selections Jordan Culbreath (running back), Patrick Jacob (place-kicker) and Joe Cloud (punter).
He served as the defensive backs coach at Mount Union College is Alliance, Ohio, for two years (2002-03), helping the Purple Raiders to the 2002 NCAA Division III national title and an appearance in the 2003 championship game while posting a 27-1 overall record with two undefeated conference titles.
Henderson began his coaching career as he earned his master's degree at the University of Louisville, spending two years with the Cardinals as a graduate assistant wide receivers coach. His star pupil was two-time first-team all-league selection and second round NFL Draft pick Deion Branch, who had 143 catches for 2,204 yards and 18 touchdowns over the two seasons. Louisville made back-to-back bowl appearances and won the 2001 Liberty Bowl. The teams went a combined 20-5 and won two Conference USA championships.
Playing Career
A 1996 graduate of Central Washington University, he earned four letters for the Wildcats and was an All-Mount Rainier League selection as a wide receiver his senior campaign in 1995. That same year, CWU shared the NAIA national championship with Findlay. He had 64 receptions for 1,272 yards and 15 touchdowns in earning honorable mention All-Little Northwest honors. A native of Tacoma, Wash., he completed his collegiate career with 95 receptions for 1,704 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Personal
Henderson is married to the former Katie Rosenthal and they have three daughters, Miriam, Luella and Liberty, and a son, Asa.
* Updated December 2019
