Canton’s Henry climbing coaching ladder with No. 4 Alabama

Canton native Charlie Henry is a top assistant basketball coach at the University of Alabama. PHOTO: University of Alabama
A lifelong student of the game of basketball (and a lights-out player back in the day, as well), Canton native Charlie Henry is proving his coaching prowess at the highest level of college hoops.
Henry, who was a basketball and academic star at now-closed Canton Agape Christian and set records during his four years as a 5-foot-9 guard at Madonna University, is a top assistant basketball coach at the University of Alabama, which was ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press Division 1 rankings Jan. 16.
Henry’s ascension hasn’t been easy — nor did it come overnight.
His impressive coaching resume spans 10 years and includes successful stops at three levels: the National Basketball Association, the G League and the NCAA.
Henry’s coaching career has come full circle. He got his first opportunity when then-Romulus High School basketball coach Nate Oats hired him during the 2009-10 season.
Henry currently serves as an assistant on Oats’ staff at Alabama.
Sharp mind, great work ethic
“I’ve known Charlie for 10-plus years and gave him his first coaching job as my assistant coach at Romulus High School,” Oats said on the University of Alabama basketball website. “I’ve seen him climb the ladder. He works hard and has one of the sharpest minds around.
“I called him frequently while I was the coach at (the University of ) Buffalo to bounce ideas off him. He was an assistant coach in the NBA and head coach in the G League, so he has the knowledge of NBA concepts, but it’s also a big plus that was he in Division I at Iowa State for a few years so he has both sides.”

Despite his modest 5-foot-9 stature, Henry was a difference-maker on the court during his stay at Madonna as he led the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference in three-point shooting percentage his sophomore season and was ninth in the conference in assists.