Bolivar, Mo. - Trish Henry begins her collegiate coaching career as an SBU Bearcat. While this will mark her first collegiate assistant position, she brings extensive volleyball coaching experience.

"We're very excited that Trish will be joining our Bearcat family," head coach Kelly Richardson stated. "She has such a passion for volleyball, and will bring a lot of experience to our program. Trish is an excellent coach, and we know she's going to do great things with SBU volleyball. She's not only a great addition to our program, but also to our campus."

Henry has served as the head volleyball coach in Monett, Pierce City, and Republic high schools over the course of her career and has led teams to four conference titles, six district title match appearances, and two district championships, adding a Final Four appearance in 2007 while at Pierce City. In the 2011 season, Henry hit the 200 win mark in her high school coaching career and holds a .606 win percentage. Athletes on her teams have garnered several individual post-season honors as well. Honored athletes include 39 all-conference selections (including a three-time Player of the Year), 5 all state selections, and 52 academic all-state selections. Coach Henry was honored as the Spring River Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2007 and the Joplin Globe's Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2007. Henry also served as Pierce City's athletic director for a two year stint.

In the winter months, Henry coaches club volleyball beginning her USAV career with Club Bear for two seasons before helping found and coach for Midwest Xplosion where she has been a coach for six seasons. She has coached 16U, 17U, and 18U age groups. Her 18s teams qualified for Junior Nationals in 2009 and 2012. Each of the teams that she has coached has finished their seasons ranked in the top fifteen of the Heart of America region, some finishing as high as fourth. All of the athletes that competed on her 18s teams have continued their careers into college playing for all levels from junior college to NCAA DI schools. Three of her former players have been selected to train in the USA Volleyball's A1 and A2 Olympic training programs.

A southwest Missouri native, the Marionville graduate received the Presidential Scholarship and attended Missouri State University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2000 with a B.S. in English Education from the Honors College. While there she served as the student manager for the women's basketball team under Coach Cheryl Burnett. She was a member of the Honors College and Gamma Pi Alpha and continues to be a member of Phi Kappa Phi. Henry has also completed her Masters in Education in Athletics and Activities Administration from William Woods University in 2009.