Lea Henry ready to get started as Dougherty County School System athletic director

ALBANY — Lea Henry is quite familiar with the office that sits at the west side of Hugh Mills Stadium.

She would stop by as a young adult to visit her uncle, Ferrell Henry, who served as the Dougherty County district athletic director at the time. She had no idea at the time that she would one day inherit both the position and that same office.

Ferrell Henry was the Dougherty athletic chief from 1985-96. The two have been in contact since it was announced Monday that Lea was taking over the position effective July 1, succeeding current AD Johnny Seabrooks, who is retiring June 30. She said she is excited to follow in her uncle’s footsteps and noted the one main thing that has stuck out to her from their talks.

“You’re going to love it,” he told her.

Lea Henry said there’s no doubt in her mind that she will love the position, which combines all of her passions — service to the community and youth, and athletics.

“When I came back here six years ago, I really wanted to give back and make a positive impact and influence as many young lives as possible,” she said. “It just so happens that, throughout the course of my career, opportunities that have been presented to me have been through athletics.”

And Henry has taken advantage of every single one. From coaching the Darton women’s basketball team to the youth development camps she runs with her husband, Greg, she has been a presence within the community. She said she believes that will help her as her tenure officially begins next month.

“I think I’m a familiar face,” she said. “I think being back and being around through the camps I’ve gotten to know young people in the community and a lot of the coaches. … People that know me know my passion is helping young people and I can’t think of a more rewarding opportunity than what I’m getting ready to do.”

In addition to her personal endeavors, Henry also played a prominent role in making sure the SIAC Track and Field Championships, which took place at Hugh Mills in May, went off without a hitch. The experience not only allowed her to be involved in a sport that is heavily supported by the city of Albany, but further familiarized her with individuals she will be seeing much more of down the road.

“I think spending that time around coach Seabrooks and Pam Hill and her daughter and being around the people in the stadium and running that meet and getting to know all the local high school track coaches … it just left me with a positive feeling,” she said. “Track is really big in Albany.

“Just meeting those guys and watching how they work, it was a great experience.”

Seabrooks said he also believes her ties to the community will serve her well. He offered one piece of advice on juggling all that comes with the position.

“The biggest thing is having the pulse and the passion for the student athletes and the coaches,” he said. “Basically, listen to them and see what they want.

“You’re going have ideas and things you’re going to want to present, but to get everybody on board, I think you have to get with them and see what their pulse is and get them involved with it. And once that happens, the process will be smooth and you can move forward with it.”

He reiterated that Henry should have no problem doing that, as many in the city have a face to put with the name due to her presence in the city. He added that he will still be around to assist her in any way she needs.

Henry will take over at a time of great change with the closing of Albany High School. Having been a part of the last major change to take place in the community — the consolidation of Albany State University and Darton State College — she said she’s ready to accept the challenges that will come with her new position.

Overall, she said, she is excited to get started and eager to see what the future holds for Albany athletics.

After announcing his retirement, Seabrooks commented on his hopes of the next athletic director taking on the task of facilitating a true feeder system. With the closing of Albany High, it appears that dream will become a reality, with directs lines of students from elementary schools through middle school to high school. Henry said she believes the system will benefit all involved in a number of ways.

“In a small town, you know where you’re going to elementary, middle and high school, so that pride factor is there from an early,” she said. “I think that’s key moving forward, to get that excitement in the younger kids about their opportunities moving ahead.”