HENDERSON TAKES OVER AT FARMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL

Farmington High School has a new girls basketball coach.  Former Shiprock head coach Larenson Henderson is heading down the highway to take over the Scorpions.

“I’m excited, just overwhelmed,” said Henderson. “I love coaching and so I’m excited to continue.”

Henderson spent six years in charge of Shiprock, but his contract was not renewed following this past season.

“I was very disappointed,” he said after Shiprock decided to make a change.  “The kids were excited about playing next year.  It was done, so I said my peace.  I’m just excited about this new job.”

Henderson reached the state final three times over a four-year period (2014-2017), winning it all in 2017. Following that state championship, Henderson was voted the New Mexico Coaches Association Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.

Henderson was a 1991 graduate of Shiprock High School.  He says his first order of business with his new team will be conditioning.

“I’m hoping they’re going to change and adapt to my style of coaching, but first of all it’s going to be a lot of conditioning,” he explained. “I hope to increase their speed and be more aggressive.  I feel like the girls have to be more physical.”

His overall record at Shiprock was 154-29.  What does Henderson think about facing his former school at some point down the line?

“I coached the girls to be competitive and I’m going to be just as competitive,” said Henderson.

“It’s going to be an adventure for me.  I do want to improve myself.  I think Farmington High is going to test me and I love the challenge.”