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WVU Sports Hall of Fame

George "Duke" Henshaw
Inducted: 2006
Written by Shelly Poe

George
George Henshaw, an 18-year veteran as an assistant coach in the National Football League, started every Mountaineer varsity football game from 1967-69 in an era when freshmen we ineligible for varsity status. First team all-Southern Conference at defensive tackle in 1967, he was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American in 1968. Co-captain of the 1969 team that went 10-1 and won the Peach Bowl under Coach Jim Carlen, Henshaw won the prestigious Ira E. Rodgers Award for "high leadership and academic qualities as well as football performance."

Twice recognized as one of the Outstanding Athletes in America, he was vice president of Kappa Alpha fraternity his senior year before graduating from WVU with a bachelor's degree in physical education; he earned a master's from WVU in 1972.

Henshaw is currently senior assistant and running backs coach for the New Orleans Saints, after nine years with the Tennessee Titans, six as assistant head coach/offense. His tight ends caught more passes in the last nine years than any other team in the NFL.

Prior to coaching for the Titans, Henshaw served as offensive coordinator for the New York Giants (1993-96), and coached with the Denver Broncos (1988-92), serving as the offensive coordinator in 1992.

He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at WVU in 1970, and served as a full-time assistant through 1975. His college resume also includes: head coach at Tulsa (1987), offensive and defensive line coach at Florida State (1976-82); Florida State offensive coordinator (1979-82); and offensive coordinator/line coach at Alabama (1983-86). He has coached in nine college bowl games, two Super Bowls and two Pro Bowls.

In 2008, Henshaw and his business partner formed a company (KH 2008, LLC) that purchases and sells real estate properties in the Destin, Fla. area. In 2009, Henshaw evaluated draft eligible players for DraftNasty.com by attending college games and watching tapes. His reports included players in the Big East, ACC, SEC, Sunbelt, and Conference USA. In 2010, he worked for Under Armour-IMG putting on 19 football combines throughout the country. He is now an educational speaker for NCSA Athletic Recruiting.

A native of Midlothian, Va., Henshaw and his wife, the former Kathleen McConnell (a WVU graduate) have three children: Michael (a former WVU football letterman), Matthew (a former tight end at Florida State), and Kerry (an Alabama graduate).

Updated 3/29/2011

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