Anthony D. Henderson, Sr. was appointed Director of Athletics at Hampton University in February 2023, bringing with him over two decades of progressive leadership experience in athletic administration, external relations, fundraising, brand strategy, and student-athlete development. A 2000 graduate of Hampton, Henderson returned to his alma mater with a bold vision—and has since led a comprehensive transformation of the university’s athletics program.
Since his arrival, Henderson has restructured and realigned the department, achieving a 225% increase in staff and hiring eight new head coaches to enhance competitive performance. He successfully navigated inherited NCAA compliance issues, resulting in a Level 1 Mitigated Negotiated Resolution, the most favorable outcome possible under the circumstances.
He also launched the Hampton Athletics Foundation, a new philanthropic entity for athletics, and helped create 68 Oak, Hampton’s official NIL collective, which focuses on Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities for Hampton student-athletes. In partnership with PlayFly Aspire, Henderson implemented an outbound ticket sales and sponsorship strategy and led the transition to a mobile ticketing and parking platform, significantly modernizing the fan and donor experience.
Academically, Henderson has prioritized student-athlete achievement in the classroom. From 2023 to 2025, Hampton student-athletes achieved historic levels of academic success, including:
- The highest departmental GPA in school history
- Multiple teams achieving perfect or near-perfect Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores
- A significant increase in graduation success rates (GSR)
- A record number of student-athletes were named to the Dean’s List, conference honor rolls, and received academic awards
These academic outcomes reflect Henderson’s commitment to developing the whole student-athlete—on the field, in the classroom, and beyond.
Henderson is currently leading the development of a 5-Year Strategic Plan for Hampton Athletics, setting a comprehensive roadmap for long-term growth. He is also spearheading the Athletics Facilities Master Plan, designed to guide capital investment priorities. As Hampton prepares for a university-wide capital campaign, he is collaborating with the institution to ensure that athletics is fully integrated.
Additionally, Henderson is helping Hampton navigate the rapidly changing landscape of collegiate athletics in the wake of the House v. NCAA settlement. He is actively working with legal counsel to determine how Hampton will approach the new era of direct student-athlete compensation, ensuring that the department remains compliant, competitive, and athlete-focused.
Before returning to Hampton, Henderson served as Deputy Director of Athletics at Yale University, where he was a member of the athletics senior leadership team. There, he led all revenue generation efforts and extended the brand of Yale Athletics through philanthropy, marketing, strategic communications, ticketing, DEI, and community engagement. He also served as the sport administrator for baseball, men’s soccer, men’s and women’s swimming & diving, and women’s ice hockey.
Before Yale, Henderson held the role of Senior Associate Athletics Director and Executive Director of Athletics Advancement at William & Mary, where he directed a record-setting $37.3 million fundraising year and led development efforts for $67 million in athletic facility projects. He played a central role in launching the $55 million ALL-IN campaign, which secured $22.8 million in its first year. He also led the transition from the Tribe Club to the William & Mary Athletic Foundation, LLC, modernized advancement operations. He promoted inclusive excellence through the creation of W&M Women in Action, the Student-Athlete of Color Coalition, and alum engagement councils.
Henderson spent over seven years at the University of Akron, where he rose to Associate Athletics Director for Development. He led the Z-Fund, Akron’s primary fundraising arm, generating more than $25 million during his tenure. He personally secured over $3.3 million in gifts, including a $1.25 million donation to establish the Keith, Jr. and Stephanie Cline Leadership Institute, which supports student-athlete development beyond athletics. He also served as sport administrator for football, overseeing all aspects of the program, including budgeting, compliance, and scheduling. His strategic scheduling efforts brought in over $7 million in additional revenue through matchups with Power Five opponents Nebraska, Ohio State, Auburn, South Carolina, Michigan State, and Indiana.
Earlier in his career, Henderson served as Assistant Director of Athletic Development at Old Dominion University, where he helped grow the athletic endowment to over $16 million and the annual fund from $400,000 to $2.7 million. He played a pivotal role in the revival of ODU football after a 70-year hiatus and was instrumental in a streak of sold-out football games from 2009 to 2018.
In the private sector, Henderson was Senior Account Executive at The Event Authority, LLC, managing the Jordan Brand Classic at Madison Square Garden. He coordinated event logistics, sponsorships, and client relations with Jordan Brand and Nike, and secured new partnerships with Upper Deck and the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).
As Director of Marketing and Corporate Partnerships for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Henderson generated over $540,000 in sponsorships and drove attendance for the MEAC Basketball Tournament up by 138%, contributing to significant economic growth for the host city of Raleigh, NC.
Henderson began his professional sports career with Disney Sports Attractions in Orlando, FL, where he supported events such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp, Pop Warner Super Bowl, Disney Marathon, and Atlanta Braves Spring Training. He also helped plan the inaugural Disneyland Half Marathon. His entry into athletics began with a front office internship with the Richmond Braves, where he contributed to record group sales in 2004.
Before entering the collegiate athletics world, Henderson was a substitute teacher and assistant football coach at Powhatan High School, his alma mater. He helped guide the program to a 32–5 record over three seasons, including a 14–0 state championship run in 2003, and coached several athletes who advanced to play in college.
Nationally regarded for his leadership, Henderson was one of 25 administrators selected for the 2018 NCAA Pathway Program, designed to prepare senior leaders to become athletics directors. He is a Hampton University 40-Under-40 honoree (2016), a graduate of the 2016 LEAD1 Institute, and a frequent participant in the Collegiate Athletics Leadership Symposium. He is also a graduate of the 2011 Charles Whitcomb NCAA Leadership Institute, where he later served on its alum planning committee.
Henderson has held numerous roles within the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD), including serving as a two-time Diversity Award winner (2010 & 2011), five-year conference representative, and creator of the Mid-American Conference Athletic Development Summit. He was also a graduate of the inaugural Bobby Purcell Mentor Program and a long-serving member of the NAADD Diversity Award selection committee (2013–2020). Additionally, he participated in the NACDA Senior Administrators Mentoring Institute in both 2015–16 and 2022.
Henderson earned his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Hampton University, where he played defensive back on the football team that won two MEAC regular-season titles and made NCAA I-AA playoff appearances—marking the program’s first postseason bids after transitioning to Division I. He later earned his Master of Science in Sports Leadership, cum laude, from Virginia Commonwealth University.
