Josh Henson, a college coach for 25 years who has spent the past three seasons as the offensive coordinator at USC, is in his first season offensive coordinator for Purdue Football. Along with guiding the Purdue offense, Henson also serves as the Boilermakers' tight ends coach.
Henson has coached in the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 and Pac-12 over his career. He was also a coach on a national championship team, knowing what it takes to reach the mountaintop of college football. Henson has been a part of bowl-eligible teams every season since 2016, while only missing bowl eligibility twice since 2007. Throughout his career, Henson has coached 27 all-conference selections, 19 NFL Draft picks and three All-Americans.
Since 2016, Henson offenses have finished Top 10 nationally in passing offense six times (three in the Top 5), scoring offense five times (twice in the Top 5), passing efficiency four times (three in the top 5) and scoring offense three times (all in the Top 5).
During his time at USC, the Trojans ranked among the nation's best over the past three seasons: second in passing yards (12,525), third in passing touchdowns (105) and fourth in points (1,480). His 2024 offense led the Big Ten in passing and ranked 10th nationally by averaging 291.7 yards per game through the air. USC averaged 440.4 yards of total offense per game this season, cracking the Top 3 in the Big Ten and Top 25 in the country.
Along with his duties as offensive coordinator, Henson coached the offensive line during his time with the Trojans. Emmanuel Pregnon (Second Team), Jonah Monheim (Third Team) and Elijah Paige (Honorable Mentioned) earned All-Big Ten honors this season. In 2023, Henson's offensive line was part of an offense that was ranked No. 3 in the nation in scoring offense (41.8) and No. 10 in the nation in total offense (467.6). The unit's protection allowed quarterback Caleb Williams, the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, to rank Top 10 in the nation in eight different statistical categories. USC was victorious over No. 16 Louisville in the Holiday Bowl to end the season, as Henson helped prepare backup quarterback Miller Moss for the role of leading the Trojan offense in the bowl game.
Henson led one of the best offensive line units in the nation in 2022. The Trojan offensive line was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award and was instrumental in protecting Williams to allow him to have a record-breaking season. Linemen Andrew Vorehees and Brett Neilon were both named First Team All-Americans, while Vorhees was the offensive recipient of the Morris Trophy and was selected to the All-Pac-12 First Team. USC earned a trip to the Cotton Bowl to conclude the 2022 season.
Before arriving at USC, Henson spent three seasons (2019-21) as the offensive line coach at Texas A&M. Guard Kenyon Green was a two-time First Team All-American (2020-2021), center Bryce Foster and offensive tackle Reuben Fatheree II earned First Team Freshman All-America accolades and A&M ranked 22nd nationally in tackles-for-loss allowed. In 2020, Henson's offensive line was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, as the Aggies ranked in the Top 5 nationally in fewest sacks allowed and TFL allowed and were the first team in 10 years to lead the SEC in fewest sacks allowed, tackles-for-loss allowed and yards per carry. Texas A&M earned berths to the 2019 Texas Bowl, 2021 Orange Bowl and 2021 Gator Bowl during Henson's tenure in College Station.
Before that, Henson returned to his alma mater, Oklahoma State, for three seasons (2016-18). He spent 2016 as an offensive analyst, then coached the offensive line in 2017 and 2018. The 2017 Cowboys led the nation in passing offense, ranked second in total offense and first downs, third in pass efficiency and fourth in scoring offense while becoming the first offense in Big 12 history with a 4,000-yard passer, a pair of 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,000-yard rusher. In 2018, Oklahoma State ranked in the national Top 15 in scoring offense, total offense, passing offense and first downs. The Cowboys played in the 2016 Alamo Bowl, 2017 Camping World Bowl and 2018 Liberty Bowl during Henson's return to Stillwater.
Henson spent seven years (2009-15) at Missouri, where he would coach alongside Odom for three seasons, the first four (2009-12) as the co-offensive line coach and the last three (2013-15) as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Four of his offensive linemen were NFL draftees. The Tigers won back-to-back SEC East titles in 2013 and 2014. Missouri appeared in five bowls during his time: the 2009 Texas Bowl, 2010 Insight Bowl, 2011 Independence Bowl, 2014 Cotton Bowl and 2015 Citrus Bowl.
Henson was LSU's tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator for four seasons (2005-08), including with the Tigers' 2007 national championship squad. He helped assemble Top 10 recruiting classes in 2006 and 2007 when he was named one of college football's Top 25 recruiters by Rivals.com. LSU played in the 2005 Peach Bowl, 2007 Sugar Bowl, 2008 BCS National Championship Game and 2008 Chick-Fil-A Bowl while Henson was down on the Bayou.
He served as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma State in 1999, then was the Cowboys' tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator for four years (2001-04).
Henson got his coaching start as an assistant at Kingfisher (Okla.) High in 1998, helping lead the team to the state semifinals.
As a player, Henson started 37 games on the Oklahoma State offensive line during his career (1993-97), earning All-Big 12 second team honors as a senior. He received his bachelor's degree in secondary education from Oklahoma State in 1998. He prepped at Tuttle (Okla.) High.
Henson and his wife, Shauna, have a daughter, Kate, and son, Will.
