Rex Henderson, a longtime assistant coach with the Bulldog football program, has been named head football coach at Artesia High School.
Dr. Crit Caton, Artesia Public Schools superintendent, made the announcement this morning.
“Because of the quality of the candidates we had inside the program, this was an extremely difficult decision,” Caton said. “But we know Rex will do a great job.”
The APS Board of Education reported Monday it had received four applications from within the system. Caton, assistant superintendents Thad Phipps, John Ross Null, and Danny Parker, and AHS Principal Eric Greer conducted interviews with the candidates Thursday.
Henderson recently completed his 15th season as an assistant coach with the football program.
Previous coach Cooper Henderson, who resigned early this month, recused himself from the hiring process due to his relation to Rex Henderson. Rex, Cooper’s nephew, will be the third member of the Henderson family to helm the Bulldogs. Cooper’s father, L.G., led the program from 1960-73 and Cooper from 1989-2015.
“I’m really thrilled about this opportunity,” Rex Henderson said this afternoon. “It’s a dream come true to get the chance to be the head football coach in Artesia, and I want to express my gratitude to Coach Cooper Henderson for all he’s done and taught me. I also want to thank Crit Caton and the administration for their support and for giving me this opportunity.
“I’m just really excited about the future of Bulldog football.”
