Jim Henry, who just led the women’s swimming & diving team to its first Ivy League Championship in 20 years, has been named Yale’s Robert J.H. Kiphuth Head Coach of Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving.
Henry, who has led the women’s program the last five seasons and got the Bulldogs on top of the medal stand for the first time since 1997 with a league title last February, will now oversee both teams.
Under Henry, the Blue has won 28 of 35 league dual competitions with eight swimmers qualifying for the NCAA Championships and 57 earning All-Ivy League honors, including a record-high of 18 last winter.
“This is a very exciting time for Yale Swimming,” said Tom Beckett, Yale’s Director of Athletics. “We are thrilled that Jim accepted the position of men’s and women’s head coach. He has had an outstanding coaching career and will be a great leader for both teams.”
He helped the Elis make a steady ascension from fourth place at the 2013 Ivy League Championships, which included undefeated Ivy dual meet records the last two winters. His 2016-17 squad earned a top-25 NCAA Division I weekly ranking, while also having its highest team GPA (3.60) in recent years.
“It is an honor to be given the opportunity to lead both teams. I look forward to continuing the tradition of excellence in the classroom and pool at one of the best universities in the world,” said Henry, who has 24 years of coaching experience, including 17 at the collegiate level. “I believe that by working together we can achieve our goals of graduating the leaders of tomorrow. I want to thank my team, Tom Beckett, our incredible alumni, and the Yale community for the support. We are excited to get started working on our future successes.”
Henry, who has been a United States National Team Coaching Member four times since coming to Yale, spent five years as assistant coach and one season as associate head coach for the University of Texas women’s program after three years as men’s and women’s head coach at the University of Denver. Prior to that, he had three seasons as men’s assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Southern Methodist University.
Prior to his arrival in New Haven, Henry coached his athletes to four top-10 NCAA Division I finishes, three Big 12 Conference Championships, 19 school records and CSCAA Team Excellence Awards for the years 2006 to 2012. Henry has also coached 44 All-Americans.
Prior to getting into collegiate coaching, Henry spent eight years coaching at the club and high school levels. He was the aquatics director and head swim coach at The Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., from 1995-98. Peddie finished fourth at the 1997 U.S. Nationals and was second at the U.S. Open that year. Henry led Peddie to the 1998 Junior National Team Championship and developed 31 high school All-Americans as well.
Henry swam at the University of Texas, where he was a national championship team member for three seasons (1988, 1989, 1990) and graduated in 1990. He was also named team captain during his senior season (1989-1990), earned All-America honors in 1990 and took home the Bob Cone Spirit Award his last three years.
He and his wife, Heather, have three sons, Aidan, Finn and Hugh, and reside in Guilford.
Press release courtesy of Yale University athletics.
Congrats Jim!! That is awesome news!
Thank you Pat. It is incredible to see Ali’s success. I am not surprised at all. Cheering for you from CT!!!
Congrats to Jim Henry, great move by Yale.
This is awesome news coach!
Rod Recor
Awesome! Congratulations Coach Henry!!