Sept. 6, 2006

GREELEY, Colo. - Jimmy Henderson has been named Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Academic Success at the University of Northern Colorado as announced by Director of Athletics Jay S. Hinrichs on Wednesday.

"Our student-athlete welfare program has taken a tremendous step forward with the addition of Jimmy Henderson to our staff," said Hinrichs. "His experience and award-winning programs will make the student-athlete experience at Northern Colorado one of the best in the Big Sky."

In his role at Northern Colorado, Henderson will set goals of academic excellence, retention and graduation. He will also monitor the academic progress of all student-athletes, advise freshmen and transfer student-athletes of academic policies set forth by Northern Colorado and the NCAA and also develop, implement, coordinate and administrate academic success programs.

Henderson comes to Northern Colorado after spending three years at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas where he was the department's coordinator for CHAMPS/Life Skills and mentoring program. Thanks to his efforts, that program received the "Program of Excellence" award in 2005-06 from the Division IA Athletic Directors' Association, making Texas Tech one of only four universities to garner that accomplishment nationwide. His main duties at Texas Tech included teaching the "Life Skills for Student-Athletes" class as well as involving the student-athletes in campus and community events, providing resources for continued student-athlete growth as well as providing direction for the mentoring program.

"I am very excited to be a part of Northern Colorado athletics," said Henderson. "I am looking forward to working with a great staff at UNC and facilitating the academic and personal growth of its student-athletes. This is an exciting time and my family is happy to be a piece of the Northern Colorado community."

Henderson received his bachelor's degree in psychology from McMurray University in 1998 and his master's degree in sports administration from the University of New Mexico in 2001. While at New Mexico, Henderson was involved with the media relations department and was a graduate intern for the Academic Services and CHAMPS/Life Skills program.

James and his wife Angie, a faculty member in the Sociology Anthropology and Social Work Department at Texas Tech, have a son, Owen.