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Drake Hires South Dakota State's Eric Henderson as Next Head Coach

The 46-year-old led the Jackrabbits to four Summit League regular season titles.

Mike Kadlick

Henderson speaks with the media.
Henderson speaks with the media. / Samantha Laurey / Argus Leader / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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The Drake Bulldogs have a new men's basketball coach as, according to The Field of 68's Jeff Goodman, they're hiring South Dakota State's Eric Henderson for the vacant position.

The team later announced the news on its website.

"My family and I are elated to join Drake Nation," said Henderson in a statement. "Early on in this process it became evident that values and vision aligned with the incredible path President Martin and Brian Hardin have already established. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity they have given me and my family to walk that path with them. The excitement for Drake basketball is at an all-time high, and I'm looking forward to building relationships and representing such a committed university and fan base. Go Bulldogs!"

Henderson is set to become Drake's third head coach in three yearsβ€”albeit for good reason. After bringing the Bulldogs to two straight NCAA tournament appearances in 2023 and '24, Darian DeVriesβ€”now at Indianaβ€”left for West Virginia last offseason. Ben McCollum then followed suit with a 31-3 record in '25, and last week accepted the head coaching job at the University of Iowa.

With big shoes to fill in Des Moines, Henderson is also leaving a pair behind in Brookings, S.D. The 46-year-old led the Jackrabbits to a 129-60 record over six seasons at the helm, including four Summit League regular season titles, and two Summit League tournament titlesβ€”leading to two auto-bids into the NCAA tournament.

Henderson also won the Summit League's Coach of the Year award in 2020 and '22. He'll now look to take Drake back to the NCAA tournament for a sixth time in the last seven years.

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Mike Kadlick
MIKE KADLICK

Mike Kadlick is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the New England Patriots for WEEI sports radio in Boston and continues to do so for CLNS Media. He has a master's in public relations from Boston University. Kadlick is also an avid runner and a proud lover of all things pizza.

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