Charlotte 49ers head men’s basketball coach Aaron Fearne has announced the hiring of Conner Henry as an assistant coach. Henry, a former NBA player originally drafted by the Houston Rockets, has coached professionally in the NBA, Australia’s NBL, and the NBA D-League (now G-League), where he was named the Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year in 2013-14.
“We are extremely excited to add Conner Henry to our coaching staff,” Fearne said. “He brings a wealth of knowledge from his playing days in the NBA and overseas and his coaching experience in the NBA, G-League and overseas.”
“Niner Nation, I’m really looking forward to this upcoming season and working with Coach Fearne and the outstanding staff that we have here,” Henry said. “I’ve only been here a week, but it’s clear that the group of guys we have all enjoy playing the game, working hard and backing each other. Last night, at the boosters event, I got a glimpse of how passionate the supporters are for the university’s great traditions in sports. I’m really excited to be a part of the athletic department’s commitment to excellence. Let’s go!”
COACHING TRAIL
Henry served as an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic in 2015-16 and was most recently the head coach of the Adelaide 36ers in Australia. His first head coaching stop was also in Australia, with the Perth Wildcats of the NBL.
He began his coaching career as an assistant at Claremont McKenna College. After his time in Perth, he returned to the United States as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA D-League.
D-LEAGUE COACH OF THE YEAR
In 2013-14, after two years with the D-Fenders, he was named head coach of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. He received the NBA D-League Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year Award after leading the Mad Ants to the league championship in his first season. Henry led Fort Wayne to a franchise record and NBA D-League-best 34 victories during the regular season to win the East Division by six games and capture the team’s first-ever East Division Championship. In his second year, he took the Mad Ants back to the league finals.
PLAYING TIME
Henry played collegiately at UC-Santa Barbara and was drafted by the Houston Rockets in 1986. During his NBA career from 1986-88, he played with the Rockets, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, and Sacramento Kings. He went on to play for the Rapid City Thrillers and Yakima Sun Kings of the CBA. In 1990 he was named the CBA Player of the Year and CBA All-Star Game MVP. He earned a second All-Star Game MVP Award in 1992. He also played professionally overseas for 10 years in Italy, Spain, France, and Greece.
Henry joins a 49ers program that is coming off a 22-win season, the program’s most wins since 2001, and a championship in the CBI postseason tournament.
