NMSU

Basketball coaching legend Lou Henson passes away

Jason Groves
Las Cruces Sun-News

LAS CRUCES - Former New Mexico State and Illinois head men's basketball coach Lou Henson passed away over the weekend. He was 88 years old. 

Henson died Saturday at his home in Champaign, Illinois, and he was buried in a private service Wednesday, the Illinois athletic department said.

"There are so many layers to Lou Henson," said NMSU Athletics Director Mario Moccia. "We will never have a coach as revered on the court or in the community as Lou Henson. 

"He was a icon in college basketball, but I don't know if there has been a more well liked or respected individual in our community. It's just an incredibly sad day for college basketball and New Mexico State University."

Henson won everywhere he coached, winning three straight state championships at Las Cruces High from 1959-61 before starting his Hall of Fame college coaching career at Hardin-Simmons in 1962. He coached New Mexico State's 1970 Final Four team and took Illinois to the 1989 Final Four. He left the game as the winningest coach at both Illinois and New Mexico State.

Born in Okay, Oklahoma, on Jan. 10, 1932, Henson lettered three times as a member of the New Mexico State men's basketball team from 1953-55. He served as the Aggies' head coach from 1966-1975 and again from 1997 to 2005. 

A two-time graduate of NMSU (1955 and 1956), Henson is survived by his wife, Mary, and his daughters, Leigh Anne, Lisa and Lori. A son, 35-year-old Lou Henson Jr., died in a 1992 car accident.

More:Amazing Aggies: An oral history of the 1970 Final Four season

"He was a really fun guy to be around," said Jack Nixon, longtime radio voice for New Mexico State athletics. "He was obviously serious about his job, but he always appreciated having fun with things and just had a positive view of the world."

He was inducted to the 2015 National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Class as the winningest coach at New Mexico State (289) and Illinois (423).

The courts at NMSU's Pan American Center and Illinois' State Farm Center are named in his honor.

Henson, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2003, had remained in Champaign, Illinois in recent months. 

"He really captured people's hearts when he was at Las Cruces High School," Nixon said. "When he came back to New Mexico State, people were excited that he could run the program. He got the support and had people go to bat for him to get the Pan American Center. I can't imagine how hard that was for him politically, but he knew he had to have it to take the program to a national scale, which he did."

Following Lou Henson at New Mexico State

Henson put New Mexico State basketball on the map in the late 1960s into the early 1970s, and the school has continued to churn out victories. 

"When I found out, it brought a tear to my eye to know that such an awesome man was no longer with us," former New Mexico State basketball coach Marvin Menzies said. "He was extremely supportive and gave me good guidance and friendship at New Mexico State and after. He just had an amazing life."

Henson's latest stint at New Mexico State ended in 2005 due to health concerns. Assistant Tony Stubblefield finished the year for the Aggies.

More:College hoops world reacts to the passing of Lou Henson

"Obviously it's very sad news today," said Stubblefield, who is currently an assistant coach at Oregon. "Coach Henson played a huge part in me being where I am at this stage in my career. Him and of course, (wife Mary Henson) were always very good to me and my family. I don't think New Mexico State basketball would be where it's at without the foundation that he laid."

Since then, Reggie Theus, Menzies, Paul Weir and Chris Jans have all won conference championships on the foundation built by Henson's legacy.

"It touches me really strongly because Lou was always so kind to me," said Theus, who took over in 2005. "Aside from the basketball stuff, which speaks for itself and what he accomplished and who he was in Las Cruces, but he was such a warm and genuine person. He is someone who called me periodically when something was going on that he could help me out with and he never had to do that, but that's who he is.

"One of the main reasons why I took the job in the first place was New Mexico State had great history. Programs go up and down and there are periods where they don't do so great. Lou had done such a great job, but then he got sick. Because of its history, you knew all of the elements were there. It's a basketball job and people in that city knew what winning was all about so my job was just bringing that back and tap into things that were already there. One of the best things I did in my coaching career was the decision to make Lou a part of the program and not be afraid of his stature."

Following news of his passing on Wednesday, Jans joined several others in the college basketball world in offering condolences on social media

"Lou Henson was the epitome of class and a one-of-a-kind coach," Jans said in a statement. "What he did for New Mexico State and the sport of college basketball is something that few before or since have accomplished. He is revered by two fan bases, which is extremely rare in our business. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mary, Lisa, Lori, Leigh Anne and all of the Henson family. May he rest in peace."

Henson has been supportive of all of the coaches who have followed him on the NM State bench. 

"I hear and see coach in my head pretty much every single day," said former NM State assistant and head coach Paul Weir, who is now the head coach at New Mexico. "Each time I plan a practice, watch a recruit, prepare for a game, or think about my team, his ideas come roaring into my brain. Whether it was the 6 a.m., meetings at McDonald's, him gazing over my shoulder at practice, or the late nights in his living room — Lou taught me so much much. I not only learned in those precious moments, but find myself now following years later. He was hard on me, but it was exactly what I needed to hear. I miss him dearly and will never, ever forget the impact he had on my life. He was one of the most impressive people I have ever met and it was an absolute honor to have received his company."

A two-time graduate of NMSU (1955 and 1956), Henson is survived by his wife, Mary, and his daughters, Leigh Anne, Lisa and Lori.

Make a donation

The Henson family asks that in lieu of flowers, friends and fans consider a memorial contribution in Coach Henson's name to one or more of the following:

  • Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces
  • Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club of Champaign, Illinois
  • Cunningham Children's Home in Urbana, illinois
  • NMSU Foundation, Inc., Lou and Mary Henson Endowed Scholarship
  • U of I Foundation, Lou and Mary Henson Men's Basketball Academic Assistance Fund

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Sports Editor Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or jgroves@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.