Updated: June 2024
Joseph Henry re-joined the Rattlers as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach in 2022 after spending the three prior seasons coaching offensive lines in the SEC. Henry was elevated to assistant head coach in 2024.
In his second season, the Rattlers offense had five players earn All-SWAC First and Second Team honors and was led by the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Jeremy Moussa. Henry also had two players on the offensive side sign with NFL teams in wide receiver Marcus Riley (New York Jets) and running back Terrell Jennings (New England Patriots). The Rattlers led the SWAC in passing and ranked 33rd in the nation, averaging 236.5 yards per game.
In his first season as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, the Rattlers saw two All-Americans on the offensive side of the ball in wide receiver Xavier Smith and offensive lineman Jalen Goss. The offense also had five guys named to the All-SWAC teams, including Smith, Goss, quarterback Jeremy Moussa, wide receiver Jah’Marae Sheread, and offensive lineman Cam Covin. The Rattlers had one of the best offensive players in the nation in Xavier Smith, as he ranked top-11 in four different receiving categories. Smith went on to sign with the Los Angeles Rams.
Henry returned to the Highest of Seven Hills, where he previously served on Coach Simmons’ inaugural staff as the pass game coordinator, running backs coach, and punt coordinator in 2018. Under Henry’s mentorship, junior RB Deshawn Smith earned 2nd team All-MEAC honors after securing the starting role halfway through the season. Smith burst onto the scene as a feature back, averaging over seven yards per carry. Sophomore punter Chris Faddoul led the nation in punting that same season, averaging 46.8 yards per punt during his 2018 campaign. Faddoul’s efforts were rewarded by being selected as the first-team AP FCS All-American punter and first-team All-MEAC. He was the first Rattler to earn this national distinction since 2009.
Before his first stint at FAMU, Henry served on Coach Simmons’ inaugural head coaching staff at Prairie View A&M University for three seasons, from 2015 to 2017.
Henry was an offensive line coach for the LSU Tigers in 2021, including coaching the position exclusively during LSU’s bowl preparation and game. In the 2021 TaxAct Texas Bowl, LSU rushed for 170 yards against a stingy Kansas State defense that had previously allowed just over 100 yds per game. Senior guard Ed Ingram earned All-SEC honors in 2021, and Henry mentored three LSU linemen who were drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft: Ingram in the 2nd round by the Minnesota Vikings, Austin Deculus in the 6th round by the Houston Texans, and Chasen Hines in the 6th round by the New England Patriots.
Before LSU, Henry served as an offensive line coach at the University of Arkansas in 2020. In addition to game-planning runs and protections, Henry was an advance scout for each new opponent.
In 2019, Henry split time working with the offensive line and tight ends at the University of Missouri.
Henry spent the 2014 season as the defensive line coach at Birmingham-Southern College. Henry mentored these senior defensive linemen (Paden Gaines, Wesley Hansard, and Connor Shannon) to earn All-SAA Conference honors.
As the tight ends and fullbacks coach at UAB in 2013, Henry’s Blazers caught 37 passes for 374 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 10 yards per reception under his tutelage.
In 2010 and 2011, Henry began his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater on the offensive side of the ball.
Throughout his coaching career, Henry has coached nine players who went on to play in the NFL (eight draft picks).
Henry traveled to the Northeast to participate in NFL OTAs with the New England Patriots and New York Giants in 2019. He has also actively taken part in the AFCA Professional Development Series. He earned two bachelor’s degrees, one in finance and one in marketing, from Arkansas in 2009 and his master’s degree from Arkansas in human resources and workforce development in 2017.
Throughout Henry’s five seasons as a player at Arkansas (2005-2009), the Razorbacks won 35 games, including a ten-win season and the SEC Western Division Championship in 2006. That squad finished 10-4 overall, 7-1 in the SEC, and is the only team in school history to win seven SEC games in a single season. Henry played in the 2007 Capital One Bowl, the 2008 Cotton Bowl, and the 2010 Liberty Bowl. He began playing at Arkansas as a walk-on but earned a scholarship before the 2008 season.
A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Henry was a letterman in football, basketball, and soccer at Little Rock Central High School. He played tight end and punter, helping lead his team to a 23-1 record and two consecutive state championships (2003-2004). During his senior season, Henry served as a team captain, earned All-Conference honors as a tight end, and had the best punting average in Arkansas.
He is married to Grace Henry, and the couple has three children together: daughter Linley and sons Ford and Garrett.
