E.J. Henderson - Football Coach - Princeton University Athletics

E.J. Henderson

Title:
Defensive Backs Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator
E-Mail:
ejh@princeton.edu

PRINCETON RECRUITING AREAS — Florida, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, Washington, New Jersey (Middlesex, Monmouth)

E.J. Henderson is in his sixth season during his second stint on the Princeton football coaching staff in 2026, as he was previously with the Tigers from 2007-10.

Torian Roberts nabbed Second Team All-Ivy in 2025 as he developed into one of the top defensive backs in the Ivy League and tied for the league lead with four interceptions. Nasir Hill corralled his third career All-Ivy nomination as he was third on the team in tackles (59). Evan Haynie also picked up All-Ivy honors after placing fourth in the conference in interceptions (three) and eighth in passes defended (nine).

The Tigers’ defense remained one of the best in the FCS in 2023, finishing in the top 20 in rushing defense (third, 93.8 yards), scoring defense (sixth, 17.5 points per game), team passing efficiency defense (sixth, 111.45), fewest first downs allowed (seventh, 174), red zone defense (eighth, 70.8 percent), total defense (eighth, 302.1) and fumbles recovered (17th, 10). Hill, a starting safety for the Tigers, was one of only three underclassmen to earn either first- or second-team All-Ivy League honors on the defensive side of the ball. He was third on the squad and 12th in the conference with 62 tackles while recording three picks, also third in the Ivies.

The 2022 season saw Princeton go 8-2 and be in contention for the Ivy League title into the final week of the regular season. The Tigers had 16 All-Ivy selections tied for second-most at Princeton since 2013 while Liam Johnson was named the Bushnell Cup winner for Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year.

The Tigers' defense finished No. 1 in the country in scoring (13.5), third in rushing defense (90.7), fourth in total defense (299.7) and interceptions (16), 11th in passing efficiency defense (115.37) and 15th in fewest first downs allowed (189).

Princeton went 9-1 and earn an Ivy League title, its third in five seasons in 2021. The Tigers had 16 All-Ivy selections including six on defense. Princeton's defense was one of the best in the FCS as it allowed the second fewest first downs (149), was third in rushing defense (73.2), eighth in team sacks per game (3.3) and ninth in total defense (274.1).

While with Cornell prior to his second stint with Princeton, Henderson oversaw a secondary that went from allowing 271 yards passing per game in 2016, the year before he arrived to an average of 201.3 for his three seasons, including an Ivy League-best 189 in 2017.

Henderson is a 1996 graduate of Central Washington University, where he earned four letters for the Wildcats and was an All-Mount Rainier League selection as a wide receiver his senior season in 1995, when CWU shared the NAIA national championship with Findlay and he had 64 receptions for 1,272 yards and 15 touchdowns. A native of Tacoma, Wash., he completed his collegiate career with 95 receptions for 1,704 yards and 20 touchdowns.

He began his coaching career as a wide receivers coach at Louisville, where among those he would coach would be Deion Branch, who would go to be a Super Bowl MVP with the New England Patriots. Among his many coaching stops, where he would coach on both sides of the ball and special teams, Henderson would also win an NCAA Division III title with Mount Union in 2002 and reach another championship game a year later.

Henderson has four children: daughters Miriam, Luella and Liberty and a son Asa.