The 425 student-athletes who call New Mexico State University home today — those who pitch, tackle, dribble, swim, stroke, and run for the Aggies — may have never met legendary coach Lou Henson. But they are now part of his enduring legacy.

With the renaming of the Aggie Athletic Club to the Lou and Mary Henson Excellence Fund, today’s Aggies are connected to a coach whose leadership, generosity, and belief in student-athletes shaped NMSU sports for generations. Gifts to the Henson Fund immediately support scholarships, academic assistance and training resources, helping athletes thrive on and off the field.

Dedicated on January 10, 2026, what would have been Henson’s 94th birthday, the fund honors the winningest coach in Aggie men’s basketball history and a man whose devotion to NMSU extended far beyond the court.

Rooted in Purpose

Born in Okay, Oklahoma, Henson began his college journey at Connors Junior College (now Connors State College) in Warner, Oklahoma, before transferring to New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, now NMSU. He lettered in basketball for the Aggies from 1953 to 1955 and earned both his bachelor’s degree (1955) and master’s degree (1956) in education.

“NMSU is where Lou found his purpose,” said his wife, Mary Henson. Married in 1954, the couple shared 65 years together before Lou’s passing in 2020. A farm girl from Lanark, Illinois, Mary first met Lou when he worked as a migrant laborer, spending summers canning peas and corn for the Green Giant factory in her hometown, earning a dollar an hour and sending 90 cents of it home to his parents. That early sacrifice reflected the resilience and dedication that would define his work ethic and shape his career.

Henson launched his coaching career at Las Cruces High School in 1956, rising quickly from junior varsity coach to varsity head coach. From 1958 to 1962, his teams won three consecutive state championships, foreshadowing the discipline, integrity and leadership that would define his career.

“Las Cruces was always where Lou wanted to be,” Mary said. All four Henson children were born in Las Cruces: Lou Jr. (who passed away in 1992), Lori Henson, Lisa Rutter, and Leigh Edison. “This community embraced our family. Being part of Aggie athletics was one of the great joys of our lives.”

A Program Transformed

A friend encouraged Henson to apply for the head basketball coaching position at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. To his surprise, the board invited him for an interview and offered him the job on the spot. 

It was the early 1960s and the Civil Rights Movement was gaining momentum. Henson accepted on one condition: Hardin-Simmons would integrate. After an overnight deliberation, the board agreed. “It was gutsy, but Lou was very proud of that decision,” Mary says.

Henson returned to his alma mater in 1966 as head basketball coach and athletic director and immediately sparked a turnaround. In his first season, the Aggies rebounded from a 4–22 record to finish 15–11 and earn an NCAA Tournament berth. A year later, he became athletic director, and four years later, Henson led NMSU to its only Final Four appearance in program history. “That season meant so much to Lou, but what mattered most were the players, watching them believe in themselves and carry those lessons into life.”

During his first nine years at NMSU, Henson guided the Aggies to six NCAA Tournament appearances and four 20-win seasons. Known for the iconic crimson sport coat he wore to the games, he swapped his team’s color to orange in 1975 and spent 21 seasons at the University of Illinois, leading them to a Final Four appearance in 1989 — the second in his career. He became the winningest coach there, too, and one of only 11 NCAA coaches to take two different schools to the Final Four.

Following retirement from Illinois, Henson returned once more to NMSU as head coach in 1997, accepting a salary of just $1 per month. Those final eight years courtside cemented his legacy as the winningest head coach in Aggie men’s basketball history. In 2005, Lou and Mary were both awarded honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from NMSU. She remains active in her community in Champaign, IL, living in the same home she and Lou bought in 1975 and supporting causes to build student-athlete educational success.

“My dad represented exactly what the Henson Excellence Fund stands for,” said Lori Henson, who still calls Las Cruces home. “He was a dirt-poor kid from rural Oklahoma: a first-generation college student whose athletic ability opened the door to higher education. That scholarship changed our family dynamic, and this fund is about creating that same opportunity for every student-athlete.”

A Legacy Carried Forward

Robert O. Evans ’68, Henson’s first recruit at NMSU, played three seasons for the Aggies and served as team captain during the 1966–67 season. He later joined Henson’s coaching staff during the historic Final Four run, coaching many of his former teammates.

“Coach loved New Mexico State deeply and made it a light in all our lives,” Evans said. “He built a foundation of grit, accountability, and loyalty — he was loyal to me until the end. The Pan Am Center was sold out when I was a student, and I believe we can build that energy again.” Guided by Henson’s principles, Evans became head coach at Arizona State University and the University of Mississippi, winning three Southeastern Conference championships and one NCAA appearances.

Russell Catanach ’81, a longtime supporter of Aggie Athletics and admirer of Coach Henson, echoed that sentiment. “Athletics is the face of the university to the rest of the nation,” Catanach said. “Students want to be part of something competitive and successful. Lou Henson transformed Aggie athletics, and this Excellence Fund ensures his impact will continue for generations.”

Through donor support, the fund helps ensure Aggies are prepared to succeed in competition, in the classroom, and in life beyond NMSU. Make your gift at Lou and Mary Henson Excellence Fund | New Mexico State University Foundation.