Tommy Henry returned to Winthrop in November 2023 and served as Assistant Athletic Director for External Affairs until January 2025, when Henry took on an elevated role in the department as the Senior Development Officer for Athletics. In this role, Henry oversees all aspects of the Eagle Club's major gift operations, which focuses on gifts of $25,000 and greater in support of Winthrop Athletics.
In his previous role as Assistant Athletic Director for External Affairs, Henry oversaw revenue generation, corporate partnerships, ticketing, NIL programming and licensing, while also serving as sport supervisor for the Eagles' Men's Soccer program.
In January 2025, Henry helped secure the largest sponsorship commitment in Winthrop Athletics history, a 5-year, $1.5 million naming rights partnership for Winthrop Ballpark, partnering with Founders Federal Credit Union. Henry also secured major commitments from Coroplast Tape and Atrium Health.
Henry has spearheaded increased revenue and event attendance, as well as fan experience upgrades. In the past 2 years, corporate sponsorship revenue grew by 171% and attendance increased by 58% and 262% in Men's and Women's Basketball, respectively. In the 2024-25 season, Men's Basketball eclipsed $127,000 in total ticket revenue, an all-time high. Other initiatives overseen by Henry include the implementation of the Winthrop NIL Store in partnership with Campus Ink, creation of "Big Stuff's Pale Ale", the officially licensed beer of Winthrop Athletics in partnership with Middle James Brewing and the return of Big Stuff's Kids Club presented by Empire Pizza. Henry also led the creation of the "Eagles Nest"- a new craft beer garden at Winthrop Coliseum featuring local York County brews in partnership with Visit York County.
Previously serving at Winthrop as the Development Coordinator for Athletics from 2018-2021, Henry returned to Rock Hill after serving as the Director of Sales and Sponsorship at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. During his time in the Music City, Belmont corporate sponsorship revenue grew by 59% and ticket revenue grew by 43%.
Henry also holds past experience with Belmont-Abbey College, the Washington Commanders and the Charlotte Knights.
The Davidson native earned a bachelor's degree in history from Xavier University in 2012 and his MBA with a concentration in sports marketing and revenue generation from Winthrop in 2022.
