Longtime WCHS girls coach retiring
Leslie Henderson will retire as girls basketball coach at Watson Chapel High School, ending a 35-year run in the district dotted with 10 state championships in basketball and track and field.
Henderson, a former University of Arkansas at Monticello player, spent the last 32 years as the varsity girls basketball head coach. Her overall record was not immediately available, but under her watch, Watson Chapel is tied with eight other schools for the fourth-most basketball state championships in Arkansas with five.
“I had thought about it the year before, during preseason actually, and thought about it through the year,” the 59-yearold said. “At the end of the year, I signed my contract at the very last moment. I just could not (retire). This year, there were some moments where I knew it was time. Probably toward the end of the season, I knew for sure it was the year to do it.”
Henderson said she felt during the 2022-23 preseason it was more of a struggle to coach because she wasn’t sure if she was as effective as in past seasons with a young team.
“I knew what I needed them to do, but we kind of came on, and I knew — I kept saying we’re really young,” Henderson said. “I knew my heart wasn’t ready to go because I couldn’t do it. I sat there and said, ‘I’m going to tell my team today,’ and I literally could not do it. I could never just say, ‘Girls, I’m going to go.’”
But before this season ended, Henderson said, she knew it was time.
“I feel very blessed because — you know it’s a cliche that
you never worked a day in your life. I really didn’t. I didn’t care when spring break was, when school was out, I never counted down the school year. I couldn’t wait for Mondays. I’d tell my husband it’s not just my job, it’s like my hobby, too, like he has and he has his job, too, but mine is both. I feel very blessed to have had that.”
There were times this season, however, Henderson wasn’t as excited about going to practice or practice wasn’t as enjoyable, she said.
“I just knew it was time,” she added.
She told her players past and present in recent days of her decision, as well as her closest friends like Becky Brown-Yarbrough, who played with the former Leslie Marler at UAM in the 1980s and has coached at Star City for the past 33 years.
“There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t call each other and talk basketball,” Brown-Yarbrough said. “We’ve been together a long time, playing with each other and coaching in the same area against each other. She’s just a great person, great coach. The consistency she’s had all these years at Chapel is just amazing.”
Known as Leslie Byrd early in her coaching career, Henderson drew interest from officials in other school districts about taking over their programs and applied for some positions on her own.
“Every time I thought I might get them, I got sad,” Henderson said. “This is way before any state championship. And then, there was one big job. It came down to two people. Basically, I did not get it. After that, I felt relieved and I knew right then I would never even entertain a job again. People would call and say, ‘I know you’re not leaving Chapel, but …’ and I would tell them, ‘No, I’m not.’”
Instead, she built her own dynasty at Watson Chapel, winning state championships in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2016 and 2017. Her track and field teams won titles in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002.
This season, Henderson’s Lady Wildcats finished tied for first with Hamburg in Conference 4A-8 at 12-2, but Hamburg earned the No. 1 seed in the 4A South Region playoffs based on two narrow victories over Watson Chapel. The Lady Wildcats missed the state playoffs after a 60-56 loss to Magnolia in Nashville, ending their season at 23-8.
Henderson’s husband Joe has accepted a job in Paducah, Ky., with an industrial supply company. Leslie Henderson said the pair will maintain a home in Mountain Home, where she grew up, so she can watch her nieces and nephews play basketball, in addition to being in Paducah.
She also has left the door cracked for a chance to coach in the basketball-crazy Bluegrass State.
“I told my girls, maybe I’m not totally finished. Who knows?” she admitted.
Aside from the victories in the only place where she’s coached — Henderson counted five losing seasons in 32 varsity seasons — she hopes her legacy is defined by her propensity to do things right.
“The wins, that’s not it at all because we’ve had some rough years,” Henderson said. “I just hope that work ethic and integrity [were taught], no matter what talent we had. I’ve had former players text me and call me. That’s what it’s all about.”
For old time’s sake, perhaps, Henderson has kept every practice plan from her entire coaching career.
“Leslie is a legend, Hall of Famer, and a sister to me that will be missed by many,” Brown-Yarbrough said. “The number of wins and championships she has won are amazing, but also the life lessons she has taught to so many young female athletes has been so special. Her work ethic and passion for the game is extraordinary.”