An experienced coach will head east from sunny LA.
First reported by Football Scoop, it seems as if Barry Odom has hired his Offensive Coordinator, hiring Josh Henson away from USC.
Barry Odom and Josh Henson have had success together in the past.
Purdue, get to know Josh Henson, your new play caller https://t.co/5qkxcpYZNA
— FootballScoop (@FootballScoop) December 17, 2024
Henson has been with USC since 2022, where he also coached the offensive line. Lincoln Riley is the playcaller for the Trojans, and Henson served more in a support role while coaching the offensive line for Riley.
Now, he will have the opportunity to take control of the Boilermaker Offense and make it what he wants it to be.
Henson has worked with some of the best coaches in college football during his time as an assistant coach.
He has worked for Les Miles, Gary Pinkel, Mike Gundy, Jimbo Fisher, and Lincoln Riley, mostly working with the offensive line and tight ends.
It is to be determined if he will work with a position group while being the offensive coordinator, but in past roles, he has served as the offensive line coach and the offensive coordinator at the same time.
Offensive production was never an issue for USC the last three years that Coach Henson was there.
2024: 29.8 PPG
2023: 41.3 PPG
2022: 41.4 PPG
He also served as the offensive coordinator under Gary Pinkel at Missouri from 2009 to 2015.
2015: 13.8 PPG
2014: 27.8 PPG
2013: 39.1 PPG
2012: 25.8 PPG
2011: 32.8 PPG
2010: 29.8 PPG
2009: 29.0 PPG
When Coach Odom was hired in 2016 to take over for Gary Pinkel, Coach Henson slid over to Oklahoma State to Coach the offensive line for Gundy, then he worked for Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M before heading to LA.
Henson’s offensive line background is exciting for me. Some of the best play callers are the offensive line coaches, as they have more direct communication with the five most important players of the scheme, the offensive line.
Henson should be a welcomed name for Purdue Fans. He is not afraid to run the ball but will do so to be able to throw the ball down the field. He has had offenses that have scored over 25 points per game in all but one season.
All of those ideas, coupled with the relationship he already has with Coach Odom from working with one another at Mizzou should allow for an easy transition.
Welcome, Coach!