Former Illinois coach Lou Henson Thursday applied for the permanent head coaching job at New Mexico State, where he has served as interim coach since October.
Henson, a 1955 New Mexico State alumnus who led the school to its lone Final Four appearance, in 1970, returned to his alma mater when coach Neil McCarthy was reassigned within the athletic department.
The university had been unable to seek a permanent successor until this week, when a district court judge here denied McCarthy’s request for an injunction to restore him as head coach.
“When I came down here, I had no intention of coaching beyond this season,” Henson said. “If I had wanted to coach, I would have stayed at Illinois. But I came back because I wanted to help the university. And if I’m selected, I still want to be a benefit to the university.”
The 65-year-old Henson is coaching the team for $57 a month–$1 in salary and $56 in medical benefits.
Henson has 675 career victories, seventh among active Division I coaches. He’s 186-79 in his 10th season with New Mexico State, having posted a 173-71 record from 1966-75, when he left to begin a 21-year run in Champaign.
The Aggies, a perennial Big West Conference powerhouse, were mired in fifth place (13-8, 3-4) in the conference’s Eastern Division heading into Thursday’s game against Nevada in the Pan American Center.
“I’m thrilled that Lou has decided to apply,” Athletic Director Jim Paul said.
New Mexico State will accept applications until Feb. 16.
