The Legend of Coach Henry
Randall Blakely
Posted in: Entertainment on 4/3/09 at 8:10 AM PST
February is black history month. As in the past, Los Angeles Harbor College would like to spotlight some great accomplishments of African Americans and also how their contributions to America have helped make this nation the greatest in the world. Today the focus is on one of our own and how for years he has exhibited outstanding qualities that have helped mold young men of many backgrounds. Coach Leon Henry is an educator here at Harbor whose career began in as a Seahawk in 1991. Since then, Henry has been a constant role model for our basketball players both on and off the field. This can be seen by the way he likes to kick back and joke with his youths. To Henry, this is much more than a job. This dedication is probably due to his mother who was a school vice principal. With education set at such priority, it's no wonder Leon Henry could open doors. At a young age, Henry was an all-league performer at Doresy High School in Los Angeles. By the time his senior year came around, Henry enrolled at Los Angeles Valley College where he played basketball for two years.
Once Henry received his AA Degree in 1967, he then decided to transfer to Cal State Los Angeles studying social sciences with Physical education being his minor. Three years later, Henry received his Bachelors degree. His education did not stop there! Henry then continued his education by entering a teaching program at the University of Southern California. There, his major was in educational psychology. He then landed his first teaching job at Compton Centennial High School in which he guided the boy's junior varsity basketball team to two winning seasons.
From there, Henry had heard a job at Inglewood High School had opened up. This job became the most difficult for Henry up to this point. This high school was on the verge of chaos due to integration policies being taken in to place. Henry then noticed whites against blacks and the like. Henry saw a way to take out this negative aggression. It was with the athletics provided by the school. Before Henry joined the Inglewood facility, the football time had no one a game in a long time and the basketball team was not looking good either. Enter Phil Cantwell, the football coach and athletic director for the school. Cantwell was a no nonsense guy who was there coaching football while Coach Henry's passion was basketball.
Once Henry received his AA Degree in 1967, he then decided to transfer to Cal State Los Angeles studying social sciences with Physical education being his minor. Three years later, Henry received his Bachelors degree. His education did not stop there! Henry then continued his education by entering a teaching program at the University of Southern California. There, his major was in educational psychology. He then landed his first teaching job at Compton Centennial High School in which he guided the boy's junior varsity basketball team to two winning seasons.
From there, Henry had heard a job at Inglewood High School had opened up. This job became the most difficult for Henry up to this point. This high school was on the verge of chaos due to integration policies being taken in to place. Henry then noticed whites against blacks and the like. Henry saw a way to take out this negative aggression. It was with the athletics provided by the school. Before Henry joined the Inglewood facility, the football time had no one a game in a long time and the basketball team was not looking good either. Enter Phil Cantwell, the football coach and athletic director for the school. Cantwell was a no nonsense guy who was there coaching football while Coach Henry's passion was basketball.
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