aaron makes a great first impression during presser
Former Notre Dame defensive backs coach Mike Mickens left some big shoes to fill for anyone that head coach Marcus Freeman would eventually add to the coaching staff. Mickens’ ability to connect with his players in multiple way led to an incredible developmental culture on and off the field that led to success in both areas. New Irish defensive backs coach Aaron Henry first media presser left an impression that he has similar traits that can allow him to transition with good results.
"Are we trying to be a chef, or are we trying to be on the Easy-Bake Oven and make something really, really fast in a microwave?" Henry asked jokingly. " I use that analogy because people see the end result of Devon Witherspoon. They don't know what happened two years prior to that. They don't understand the process, making sure he gained weight so he can finish the season and him being 155 pounds."
"It's a process to help develop in these players, not just from an athletic standpoint," Henry continued. "You can have all the athleticism in the world, but let’s not lose sight of mental health. If you don't have the guidance here, and enough people around you to help you here, I don't care how talented you are."
It's easy to walk into a room that has Leonard Moore, Christian Gray, Adon Shuler, Tae Johnson and a host of other highly talented players and just look at them as football players. But what set Mickens apart was the care and value he put into them as young men. It sounds like Henry echoes that same sentiment, and he leans on a pretty strong influence at home to help him navigate those waters.
"My secret weapon to developing football players is my wife," Henry stated. "You laugh, but I'm serious because my wife is a clinical psychologist. We don't call her Mrs. Henry; we call her Dr. Henry at home. I've been able to talk to her about situations and scenarios, and she'll give me a plan. I have the guys over to my house, and she'll sit down with them for five minutes or have a two-minute conversation and pull me aside and say, ‘Hey, you need to make sure he has this."
According to reports, Henry was on the verge of losing play-calling responsibilities as the defensive coordinator at IIllinois, and once the Notre Dame position came open, he sat down with his wife and Illini head coach Bret Bielema to weigh his options, and ultimately the opportunity to work with his former coach Chris Ash and Marcus Freeman at a place like Notre Dame was too good to pass up.
"We all understand the history at Notre Dame, but the most intriguing thing, for me, I'm always talking about growth and development in my career just as a coach. I had a conversation with my wife; we felt like it was something that was beneficial for us as a family and my career path. Then I talked to Marcus Freeman. I had already obviously knew Chris Ash, but you talk to Marcus Freeman, and it's like, okay, wow. I could see why this dude has had a lot of success at the age he's at, as a play-caller as a head coach. That kind of sealed the deal."
