Henderson State University Men's Football

Greg Holsworth was named the 19th head football coach at Henderson State University on June 26, 2024, and he is set to begin his second season at the helm of the program in 2025. Holsworth, who joined the Henderson State football staff in February of 2017 and served as the Reddies defensive coordinator for seven years, is entering his ninth season in Arkadelphia. In 2024, he became the winningest first-year head coach in program history by leading the Reddies to an 8-3 record. Eleven of his players earned All-GAC honors, including four First Team All-GAC selections. Cayden Davis also became the first HSU tight end ever to be named an All-American, receiving a Second Team nod from D2CCA and Honorable Mention selections from D2Football and Don Hansen. Earlier this year, Holsworth was selected to attend the prestigious American Football Coaches Association's 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. He was the only Division II head coach to be named a member of the 2025 class. During Holsworth's time as the Reddies' defensive coordinator, Henderson never failed to finish in the top half of the Great American Conference in scoring defense. In 2023, Holsworth and his defense helped lead the Reddies to their first NCAA Division II Playoff appearance since 2015, as well as their first win over Ouachita Baptist since that same 2015 season. Holsworth's efforts produced HSU's third nine-win season in the last four years. While serving as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator, Henderson delivered a record 40 sacks during the regular season, which was the most for an HSU team in the GAC era. Through 11 games, that was the second most in all of NCAA Division II. The Reddies also saw defensive end Gary Lewis named AFCA Second Team All-America - Henderson's first defensive All-American since 2019. In 2022, HSU's defensive staple was its rush defense. The Reddies ranked second in the GAC, allowing just 140 yards on the ground per gam, and were also third in the league with 24 sacks in 11 games. Four players off Holsworth's defense were named All-Conference, including First Team All-GAC recipient Deldric Shields. Two of the four honorees were freshman. HSU was particularly impressive in 2019 when it allowed just 19.8 points per game for the year despite starting only three senior players for the majority of the season. Henderson held nine opponents to 21 points or fewer and consistently got off to great starts, allowing only 30 total first quarter-points in 12 games. Five defensive players earned All-GAC honors for the Reddies and nickel back Mercardo Anderson was named an All-American by two different publications. Holsworth spent a year at Saint Joseph’s College prior to arriving to Henderson serving in the same capacity, and also served as assistant coach in charge of the defensive ends at the University of Wyoming.   Before his time at Wyoming, he coached at Occidental College in Los Angeles, California, where he worked with the linebackers and served as head strength and conditioning coach. At Occidental, Holsworth simultaneously served as the Defensive Coordinator at Hoover High School in Glendale, California.   Holsworth was an outstanding player at Occidental College from 2008-11. He was a three time All-Conference selection at linebacker and during his senior season, he was named his team's Most Valuable Player. That season he started as both an inside linebacker and a tight end.   He received his bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from Occidental College in 2012. Originally from Arlington, Washington, Holsworth graduated from Arlington High School in 2008. He and his wife Brooke have three children: Reagan, Jameson, and Landry.  

Tim Jennings joins the Henderson State coaching staff as a graduate assistant for defensive backs in 2025. The former Reddie defensive back played in 42 games in his four seasons in Arkadelphia. His career included 121 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 14 pass deflections. Jennings also intercepted two passes as a Reddie, one in the 2024 season opener at East Central. He was third on the team in tackles in 2022 with 49, including 31 solo stops.  Jennings was a multiple time letterwinner at DeSoto High School, and was named first team all 7-6A district as an senior. During that season he broke up 17 passes. He chose the Reddies over multiple offers, including Southern Arkansas and Arkansas Tech A native of Desoto, Texas, Jennings earned a Bachelor's Degree in Health and Human Performance from Henderson State in 2025.

Blake Blackman enters his first year as Assistant Defensive Line Coach in 2026. Blackman comes to Arkadelphia from William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he served as a student assistant after his playing career ended. While on staff with the Statesmen, he spent two seasons working with defensive backs and one season working with the defensive line. During Blackman's stent, WPU went from a 4-6 record to a top-15 ranking in NAIA and a playoff appearance, its first postseason since 2012. Coach Blackman also served as defensive coordinator for the school's junior varsity team. In this role, he designed game plans and development programs for younger players while being the primary playcaller in all junior varsity contests. Blackman played one year at William Penn after transferring from Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri. He was a three-year starter at defensive back for Jackson (MO) high school. During his career, the Indians compiled a 50-3 overall record and made two state championship appearances, winning the Class 5 State Championship in 2020.

Grace Connolly begins her first year as a graduate assistant golf coach in 2025. She comes to Arkadelphia from The Club at Falcon Point in Katy, Texas, where she served as a Player Development Coach. In this role, she helped develop golfers of all ages and ability levels, including high school and collegiate golfers, in their physical and mental game. Connolly is also a certified coach for Mental Golf Type, a system of study for golfers in understanding and developing their unique mental strengths. Grace played her collegiate golf at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. She was named the 2023 Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year and finished ninth individually in the 2024 Southland Golf Championship.  Prior to her time at Lamar, Connolly spent two seasons at Seminole State College in Sanford, Florida. She was part of two consecutive NJCAA national championships for the Raiders in 2021 and 2022. A native of Cardiff, Wales, Connolly holds her Bachelor's Degree from Lamar University.

Steven Lee begins his first year as graduate assistant golf coach in 2025-26. He has spent the last several years as both a teaching and playing professional. He was most recently teaching at Kelowna Golf and Country Club in Kelowna, British Columbia while concurrently playing on the Interior PGA Tour. He won two IPGA events this past season. Prior to his professional career, Lee played collegiately at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. In his four seasons as a Panther, Lee spent two years as a team captain. His career low round came at the Kentucky Wesleyan Invitational in Owensboro, Kentucky, where he finished tied for second individually after an opening round 69. A native of Kelowna, BC, Lee earned his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Drury, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude.

Charles (Chuck) Ross is starting his first season as the Reddies’ corners coach in 2025. Before joining Henderson State, Ross was a defensive graduate assistant and nickels coach at New Mexico State. While coaching for the Aggies, he mentored Conference USA All-Freshman Team nickel Tayden Barnes. He was a defensive graduate assistant at Sam Houston State in 2023. Ross had previously served as an assistant coach, corner backs coach, and defensive passing game coordinator at Bemidji State University (BSU). In 2022, he worked with a Beaver defense that won an NSIC title while finishing top 10 in the nation in third-down defense (an area that Ross specialized in). BSU also ranked second in its conference in points allowed per game (17.9). Prior to his time at Bemidji State, Chuck coached defensive backs as a graduate assistant at Division I FBS member Central Michigan (CMU). In his final season with the Chippewas, the team finished third in the MAC with 23.9 points and 363 total yards allowed per game. CMU would go on to win the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl against Washington State by a score of 24-21. Ross earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Central Michigan University in 2021.

Ryan O’Hara enters his first year as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2026.  O’Hara comes to Henderson from the University of Florida, where he spent the last four seasons as an offensive analyst and quarterbacks coach.He was responsible for game-planning the red-zone offense, third-down plays, and the passing game. O’Hara helped develop multiple quarterbacks for the Gators, including Anthony Richardson, who was drafted fourth overall by the Indianapolis Colts in 2023, and Graham Mertz, who was selected in the 5th round by the Houston Texans in 2024. Additionally, he served as the lead recruiter for current Florida starting quarterback DJ Lagway. Lagway was Gatorade National Player of the Year out of high school and earned Freshman All-America honors in 2024. Prior to Florida, O’Hara spent time with Coach Billy Napier at the University of Louisiana, where he started as a defensive intern before moving on to quarterback quality control coach and offensive analyst/quarterback’s coach. While with the Ragin’ Cajuns, O’Hara held many of the same responsibilities as he did when he followed Napier to Florida. The tenure at Louisiana was marked by a 34-6 record, including three Sun Belt West Division championships and a win in the 2019 Lending Tree Bowl. O'Hara coached Levi Lewis who holds multiple UL single-season and career passing records. O’Hara spent two seasons as wide receivers coach at Alabama A&M University, and was named interim playcaller for the remainder of the 2017 season. While with the Bulldogs, his quarterbacks won Southwestern Athletic Conference player of the week honors twice in the first four weeks of the season, and the offense improved its scoring average from 3 to 27 points per game. O’Hara spent the first three years of his collegiate coaching career in California's junior college ranks. After a year at Santa Monica College (in which they won the Pacific Conference with an 8-2, 7-0 record), he spent two seasons at Mount San Antonio College, where he helped lead the Mounties to a 19-5 record and a California state championship. Prior to his coaching career, O’Hara spent time in the AFL2 as the starting quarterback for the Central Valley Coyotes. In four professional games, he threw 26 touchdowns to just five interceptions. His collegiate career began at the FBS level, where he started at quarterback for the Wildcats while also lettering on the Arizona basketball team. From Arizona, O’Hara went to Central Oklahoma, where he was named All-Lone Star Conference at quarterback for a Bronchos team that won the North Division Championship. A native of Monrovia, California, O’Hara was named to the Elite 11, as well as the CaliFlorida Bowl High School All-Star Game. He and his wife Brittani have been married for 14 years and have three sons: twins Langston and Cross, and infant Pryce

Gavin Pruett enters his first season as tight ends coach at Henderson State in 2026. Pruett comes to Arkadelphia from Point Loma High School in California, where he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The Pointers won their first league title in 14 years in 2025, when they posted an undefeated regular season and earned a Division 1 playoff bid, finishing 11-1 overall. The 10-0 regular season was the Pointers’ first undefeated season since 2005. Pruett spent one year as a graduate assistant for quarterbacks at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, where he assisted in the development of freshman QB Deshawn Purdie who won Manning Star of the Week for his performance against Florida Atlantic. Coach Pruett was on staff with Reddie offensive coordinator Ryan O’Hara at the University of Florida from 2022-2023, where he served on the offensive staff and in the area of quarterback development. Pruett helped develop Gators quarterbacks Anthony Richardson and Graham Mertz. Pruett’s first collegiate coaching experience was at the University of Louisana, where he worked for coach Billy Napier as an offensive assistant. His roles included quick passing game planning, carding defenses for scout team, preparing offensive team meetings, breaking down opponent tendencies, and evaluating quarterbacks in recruiting. Coach Pruett was a collegiate quarterback at Wagner College and Sacred Heart University at the FCS level after a successful high school career career in California, where he was named MVP of the Orange County All-Star Game. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science and global studies from Sacred Heart University.

Timothy Wilkinson enters his first year as defensive line coach at Henderson State in 2026. Wilkinson arrives from New Mexico State, where he served as a defensive line quality control analyst beginning in 2024. He assisted with defensive ends and tackles, contributing to practice organization, opponent scouting reports, and weekly game planning. His role included film breakdown, personnel evaluation, and managing in-game substitutions, while supporting recruiting efforts across high school, junior college, and the transfer portal. Prior to New Mexico State, Wilkinson worked at Northern Arizona as a defensive line graduate assistant from 2018 to 2020. He supported the defensive coordinator and position coach with film analysis, practice planning, and scouting reports. He also contributed to recruiting operations and academic monitoring of student-athletes. Wilkinson has coached multiple all-conference defensive linemen, including All-Big Sky and All-Conference USA selections. His experience includes developing position-specific drills, organizing scout teams, and assisting with special teams preparation. A former defensive lineman, Wilkinson played at Northern Arizona from 2010 to 2013, earning first-team all-conference honors as a senior. He also spent time with the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League in 2015. Wilkinson holds a master’s degree in qualitative and quantitative reasoningand a Bachelor of Science degree in communication, both from Northern Arizona.  

A golfing veteran with more than two decades of experience in the industry, Ward is entering his tenth season as a head coach at the college level. He started his coaching career as an assistant for the men’s and women’s program at Jamestown College in Jamestown, North Dakota. From there, he joined the women’s golf staff at Minnesota State, where he helped the Mavericks punch their ticket to the DII NCAA Central Regional Championship in 2010. In 2014, Ward received his first head coaching nod when he took over as the men’s head golf coach at Colorado Mesa University. After four seasons at CMU, he claimed the reins of the men’s and women’s golf programs at Texas A&M-Commerce in 2018. In his lone year at Commerce, Ward led the women’s team to an NCAA Regional appearance. He also recruited and coached Lone Star Conference Player of the Year Sarah Wongsinth. Following the 2018-19 season, Ward established a new golf program at San Diego Christian College and served as its first head coach. After two years with the Hawks, Ward helped restart the men’s and women’s golf teams at New Haven in West Haven, Connecticut. The Chargers thrived under his leadership, with the women’s squad claiming a Northeast-10 Conference title in just their second season upon returning to competition. After serving as a member of the United States Air Force, Ward earned his Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Park and Leisure Studies from the University of Minnesota in 1998. Additionally, he holds a Master of Liberal Studies from the University of Minnesota (2005) as well as a Master of Science in Sport Management from Minnesota State University-Mankato (2016).

Coach Jake Warehime enters his second year as the Reddies' offensive line coach and running game coordinator in 2025. In Warehime's first year with the program, Henderson State's offensive line helped the team finish top four in the Great American Conference in scoring (32.9 points per game) and total offense (392.3 yards per game). The Reddies' run game was top five in yards per game (158.7) and boasted a Second Team All-GAC running back in the form of Jeremiah Davis. Davis rushed for a career-best 158 yards and three touchdowns versus Arkansas Tech, earning the GAC's Offensive Player of the Week Award and becoming the first HSU player since 2018 to rush for at least 150 yards in a single game. Warehime was previously an offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He coached three players to all-conference selections, including First Team Heart North All-Conference offensive lineman CJ Cunningham. Prior to his time with the Statesmen, Warehime was an offensive line coach and NFL liaison for the Great American Conference’s Southwestern Oklahoma State. The Choctaw, Oklahoma, native also spent a season at Trinity Valley Community College where, as an offensive line coach and strength and conditioning coordinator, he mentored three first team and five total all-conference team members. Prior to his coaching days, Warehime was a center for Emporia State University of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). He started 38 games across his career with the Hornets, including the program’s 2015 and 2016 NCAA Division II Playoff runs. He was named an All-MIAA Honrable Mention center in 2017. Warehime holds a Bachelor of Science in Crime and Delinquency Studies from Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas.

Dalton Bowles enters his first year as Henderson State's wide receivers coach in 2025. He comes to Arkadelphia from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he spent the last two seasons serving as an analyst. His duties with the Aggies including coaching with the safties, cornerbacks, wide receivers, and running backs. He also ran the offensive scout team and helped with game plans for both the defense and special teams units. Prior to his coaching career, Bowles spent the end of his playing career at New Mexico State. He played linebacker and strong safety for the Aggies, where he started at strong safety for the 2021 season. He came to Las Cruces from the New Mexico Military Institute, a junior college program in Roswell. He started at strong safety and served as a two year team captain for the Colts. A native of Roswell, NM, Bowles earned his Bachelor's Degree from New Mexico State University in Individualized Studies with a minor in Business Administration, and is working towards a master's degree in Education Curriculum and Instruction.

Logan Moragne joins the Reddie Football staff as running backs coach in 2025. A former Reddie running back, Moragne was a two time All-GAC selection in 2018 and 2019 at running back. Over his two years in Arkadelphia, he accounted for over 1,600 all-purpose yards and 19 touchdowns. Logan's 2019 season featured 14 total touchdowns and 892 all-purpose yards. He was named Second Team All-GAC. In 2018, he was named the Reddies' team MVP by the Little Rock Touchdown Club after averaging nearly six yards per carry and 805 total yards. He was an Honorable Mention All-GAC selection. Prior to his time in Arkadelphia, Moragne played two years at the FBS level for Arkansas State University. His time as a Red Wolf was spent both in the offensive backfield and on special teams. Moragne started on all four special teams units while in Jonesboro, collecting seven tackles and a forced fumble. He also contributed in limited action on offense, rushing for 203 yards and two touchdowns; he averaged over 10 yards per carry in his two seasons. After college, Moragne played professional football for three years. He spent part of 2022 in Innsbruck, Austria with Raiders Tirol before being released due to injury. He was quickly picked up by the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes of the German Football League, where he finished out his career. A native of Little Rock, Moragne is a graduate of Central High School. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Sports Management from Henderson State.

Will Wagner is back for his third season with Henderson State as the team's assistant head coach, defensive line coach, and special teams coordinator in 2025. In 2024, Wagner coached a defensive line that helped HSU finish top five in the GAC in yards and points allowed. The Reddies finished fourth in the league with 20 sacks and third with 12 fumbles forced. They also allowed the ninth-fewest passing yards in all of Division II at 139.6 per game. Henderson earned two GAC Special Teams Player of the Week Awards - one for Axel Robertson and one for Jody Easter. Robertson and Easter earned Second and Third Team All-GAC selections, respectively. Taking over a cornerbacks position that was responsible for HSU being last in the GAC in passing defense in 2022 with 245.4 passing yards allowed per game, Wagner elevated that unit in 2023 to where the Reddies were only allowing 200.1 yards through the air per contest for ninth in the conference. Under Wagner, cornerback Josh Brown was named Second Team All-Conference, serving as just the third cornerback/defensive back to receive All-GAC honors in the last four years. Doubling as special teams coach, Henderson also saw its first kickoff return for a touchdown since 2015 with Wagner on the headset.  Wagner brought 22 years of coaching experience at the college ranks to the Reddie staff. His most recent post prior to his transition to Arkadelphia was serving as West Texas A&M's assistant coach for the past three seasons where he coached several position groups, including outside linebackers, defensive backs and special teams. In 2021, WTAMU held opponents to 19.6 points per game while the Buffs special teams averaged 53.8 yards per punt return. When opponents reached the red-zone, they scored a touchdown on just 57 percent (20-35) of their attempts.  Before that, Wagner was the head football coach at Angelo State from 2011-18, leading the Rams to an overall record of 48-41, one LSC Championship and one NCAA Playoff appearance.   In his final season in San Angelo, Markus Jones was named the winner of the 2018 Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year after leading the nation in tackles for loss by double digits. He also coached Jones, Justin Jackson and Fred Lawrence to All-American honors in 2017.    Wagner led the Rams to the inaugural LSC Playoff Championship in 2014 and to the program's first NCAA DII Playoff win since 1997. He was named the LSC and AFCA Regional Coach of the Year after leading ASU to nine wins, their most wins in more than a decade. They won six straight games during the season, including a 35-33 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce, giving the Rams their first championship of any kind since 1987.     His first coaching stint in college was with Northwest Missouri State, where he served 11 seasons as an assistant coach. He helped the Bearcats to 10 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association championships, seven national championship games and three national titles.    The Bearcats averaged 18 interceptions per season from 2004-10 under Wagner, with 12 of his defensive backs earning a combined 18 All-MIAA honors. He also mentored Myles Burnsides, a two-time All-American and 2008 National Defensive Player of the Year.    As a player, Wagner was an All-American defensive back at Hardin-Simmons, where he played from 1992-95 and earned selection to the Hardin-Simmons 20th Anniversary Team. During his career, he started in 47 games recording an American Southwest Conference record 23 career interceptions. He also set the program record for most interceptions in a single season with eight.