Billy Henley joined the Northwestern State coaching staff in June, bringing with him a reputation for building versatile, productive offenses.
Henley arrived in Natchitoches after spending one season at Florida Southwestern State College where he helped build an offense that averaged more than seven runs per game.
At Florida Southwestern, Henley was in charge of the team’s offense and served as the Buccaneers’ third base coach. He helped develop AJ Shaver into an All-American while also coaching a pair of FCSAA D1 JUCO all-state selections. The Buccaneers blasted a school-record 69 home runs while Shaver established school marks for batting average (.403) and home runs (19).
Henley spent the 2022 season at Francis Marion University, serving as the hitting coach for a team that finished fourth in NCAA Division II with a .353 batting average, setting a school record. Under Henley’s tutelage, the Patriots averaged more than nine runs per game.
Four of Henley’s hitters earned all-region honors and one was named an honorable mention All-American.
Henley spent two seasons at Andrew College in 2020 and 2021, helping the Fighting Tigers capture the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association championship, the first conference crown in program history, and set a school record for single-season wins.
Henley’s Andrew offense averaged better than eight runs per game and had a .339 team batting average as it set numerous school records.
Henley’s first Division I experience came as a volunteer assistant at Georgia State in the 2019 season when he was the Panthers first base coach.
Henley took a two-season detour to return to high school coaching in 2017- 18, coaching at King’s Ridge Christian School.
Henley helped take King’s Ridge to the final 16 of the Georgia High School Association’s state playoffs and coached five players who earned all-region honors, including the regional Player of the Year. Under Henley’s direction, King’s Ridge averaged better than seven runs per game.
Henley’s return to high school came after two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Oglethorpe University.
At Oglethorpe, Henley was the team’s third base coach and also was responsible for supervising the strength and conditioning program.
Henley began his career as an assistant coach at South Forsyth High School in Georgia.
Henley also has served as the hitting coach for the Green Bay Booyah of the Northwoods League in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023.
A four-year letterman at Georgia College, Henley was part of two conference championship teams and of the 2010 team that reached the NCAA Division II World Series.
A 2011 Georgia College graduate in mathematics, Henley earned his master’s degree in education from the University of Phoenix in 2013. He is married to the former Maggie Lamal.Â
