After leading the University of Denver men and women's swimming and diving programs to a 61-29 record and being named Sun Belt Conference Female Coach of the Year and Male Coach of the Year, University of Denver Head Swim Coach Jim Henry has taken a position at the University of Texas as an assistant coach to the women's program.

“I believe Jim Henry is a perfect fit for our program,” noted Brackin. "He is dedicated, enthusiastic and loyal to The University, and has a great desire to help our women’s team reach the heights of national prominence again, just as it did when he was an undergraduate here. The UT men’s and women’s swim program both earned NCAA titles in 1988 and 1990 while he swam for Eddie Reese. Jim clearly remembers that time and the excellence in the swim program. Hearing his enthusiasm for what this program can be, and based on his successes as a coach, I knew he was the right match for our position. He is willing and excited to work together with me to build something very special here at Texas."

"It is with a heavy heart that I leave the University of Denver," Henry said. "It was a tough decision to make but it's a great opportunity for me to give back to my alma mater. The progress that we have made during my time here has been tremendous and there are only great things in store for both the swimming and diving programs here at DU."

Henry spent three years at DU as head coach of both the men and women's teams. He helped the Pioneers to back-to-back runner up honors at the Sun Belt Conference Championships in 2005 and 2006 and was named Female Head Coach of the Year in 2005 and Male Head Coach of the Year in 2006. He has coached two Pioneers to Sun Belt Conference Swimmer of the Year honors.

"We are sad to see coach Henry leave," DU Director of Athletics and Recreation Peg Bradley-Doppes said. "We were fortunate to have Jim as a part of our Pioneer family for three years as he has taken our swimming and diving programs to new heights. He is an outstanding coach and person and will be dearly missed by the entire DU community." "Jim grew up in the state of Texas, which is another huge bonus," Brackin said. "He is well-connected to the club coaches and high school coaches. His grassroots connections will serve us well in recruiting the Texas student-athletes, which is a huge priority. While at SMU, he was instrumental in helping the men’s program develop into a nationally-ranked power. The Denver swimming programs also reached some incredible goals under Jim’s direction. He has the desire, commitment and experience to coach at the elite level and help develop national championship-caliber athletes.”

Henry served as assistant coach at SMU from 1999-2003. Henry enjoyed his finest season at SMU in 2001-02, where he helped the Mustangs finish 12th at the NCAA Championship including five individual All-American performances. SMU also won its sixth consecutive Western Athletic Conference crown.

The former Richardson Berkner High School standout returned to the Lone Star State after coaching at The Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., from 1995-98. Henry led Peddie to the 1998 Junior National Team Championship and four Eastern Interscholastic Championships from 1996-1998. In addition, Peddie earned a fourth-place finish at the 1997 U.S. Nationals and was also second at the U.S. Open that year. Henry's 1996 team yielded six U.S. Olympic Trial qualifiers and he developed 31 high school All-Americans from 1995-1998.

A three-time NCAA national champion and four-year letterwinner at Texas, Henry was a team captain and All-American in the 400-IM his senior year. The Longhorns won the Southwest Conference Championship each of Henry's four years and were NCAA champions in 1988, 1989 and 1990. A nine-time SWC finalist, Henry also earned the Bob Cone Spirit Award three times from 1988-1990.