Retired? Not really, Lea Henry still has work to do

ALBANY — Once upon a time, Lea Henry wore red, white, and blue and brought home Olympic gold. More recently, she’s worn the green and gold of Monroe, the maroon and silver of Dougherty, and just about every other school color stitched into Dougherty County sports.

Now, after eight years as athletic director for Dougherty County Schools, she’s retiring from the role, but not from the game.

“We’ll probably hit the golf course more often and spend time at our beach house,” Henry said last week, seated in her office at the old Albany High School field house. “We’ll take more walks on the beach and more time with the dogs, but I can never retire from basketball, the game I love so much and that opened so many doors for me.”

She smiled, then added, “And I can’t retire from working with young people through athletics. That’s always been my passion. We’ll keep trying to make a positive difference.”

That commitment continues this July, when Henry hosts the 41st annual Lea Henry Camp of Champs at Deerfield-Windsor. Last year’s camp drew 325 participants over two weeks— a new high. This year’s sessions run July 8–11 and July 14–17, open to boys and girls ages five to 18. It’s the kind of grassroots work Henry has always prioritized — providing opportunity, instruction, and encouragement. Registration is still open by emailing [email protected] or calling 404-556-2302.

Her path back to Albany began not on a court, but at a crossroads.

After a 16-year run as head coach at Georgia State University, Henry and her husband, Greg Manning — a longtime collegiate athletic director — decided to transition out of the college ranks and launch their own business, L&G Camp of Champs. They moved into their Florida beach house, spending the summer traveling, building relationships, and running youth basketball camps across the country, eventually hosting as many as 60 each year.

Then came the call: Henry’s father, longtime Albany educator W.T. Henry, was facing a serious health issue. The couple made the decision to return to South Georgia.

“We made a commitment to be around for both of my parents, who have now passed,” she said. “Greg was fine with it — he picked out the house. He’s from Pennsylvania, so he had to adjust to the heat and the gnats, but he was so supportive.”

Back in Albany, Henry became the women’s basketball coach at Darton College in 2011 and guided the team to the NJCAA national tournament in her second year. She later became the school’s athletic director. But when Darton merged with Albany State, Henry wasn’t selected for the top job at the newly consolidated university. She accepted the role of assistant athletic director instead — and, in hindsight, says that moment of disappointment opened the door to something greater.

“I was disappointed when I didn’t get that job,” she said. “But sometimes blessings come in disguise.”

That blessing came when the athletic director position for Dougherty County Schools became available. Henry stepped into the job — and into a broader mission.

“The position gave me a different view of what my career had always been about,” she said. “I’d coached and recruited high school athletes for 25 years, but this was a learning curve. I leaned on great role models like my dad and my uncle, Ferrell Henry, who was the system’s first athletic director.”

She also credited Superintendent Ken Dyer and former deputy superintendent Rodney Bullard for their guidance and support.

“I’m so thankful to Mr. Dyer for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be the District Athletic Director,” Henry said. “I will forever be grateful. The position allowed us to stay in Albany for our family and continue to work to make a positive difference for the youth in our community. Mr. Bullard was such a pleasure to work with. You don’t take a job to make friends, but I’ve made lifetime friends here. And thank goodness Greg was behind me every step of the way.”

Henry’s dream job after playing for the University of Tennessee was to return as an assistant coach under Pat Summitt. But the legendary coach had other plans for her.

“Pat Summitt told me I didn’t need to be an assistant,” Henry recalled. “She told me, ‘Go be a head coach.’”

So she did — at every level. And whether it was with Olympic teammates, junior college players, or elementary-aged campers, Henry brought the same energy: teach, uplift, lead.

“My goal after the Olympics was to give back to the game that gave me so much,” she said. “I’ve had a wonderful, fulfilling career, and I’ve tried to be one of those strong leaders for others — the kind who influenced me.”

Today, the “L&G” camp network has scaled back from 60 to 15 locations, many in underserved communities. She and Greg also continue to host the annual Southeast JUCO Jamboree, which brings 32 women’s basketball teams and 150 college recruiters to Albany every October.

And while she’s still committed to the game, she’s just as devoted to family. She’s now helping care for her aunt.. Her next generation, nephews, a granddaughter, and a grandson already love the game of basketball.

“We’re still doing basketball,” she said. “Just maybe with a little more beach and golf in the background.”

She may be stepping away from the title. But Lea Henry hasn’t stopped showing up for the game, or for the kids whose lives it changes.