Since the mid-70's Henry E. White has been in some sort of coaching capacity, which began in the public school sector to the present on the collegiate level at North Carolina Central University.
White, a native of Monroe, N.C., began his outstanding coaching background on the middle school level as the Boy's Basketball and Baseball Coach. Under his reign, the middle school team won their first basketball championship in his first year as head coach. He began his collegiate career at his alma mater, Saint Augustine's College in Raleigh, N.C., as both the Assistant Coach of the baseball team and the Assistant Coach of the men's basketball team. At the young age of 29, White became Head Coach of the baseball team the following season. He served in this capacity for the next 21 years.
One of the highlights of his coaching career in baseball and basketball was in 1984, when his baseball team won the NAIA District 26 Tournament Championship and advanced to the NAIA Regional Playoff in Bluefield, W.Va. The team placed third in the Regional games. In addition that same year, the basketball team played for the national championship finishing second under his direction.
White won eight conference championships in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and six tournament championships during his tenure. The latest baseball championship was in 1999 as the CIAA Tournament Champions, followed by a runner-up finish in 2000. He has a career record of 360 wins and 359 losses.
In NCCU’s first season back to baseball after dropping the sport in 1975, the Eagles brought along the championship accolades. The Inaugural Eagle squad ran through the CIAA going 15-5, taking the 2007 CIAA regular season title, finishing the season at 21-24. It was that performance by the Eagles that garnered 2007 CIAA Coach of the Year honors to Henry White, and built more enthusiasm for a program on the move up to the elite level of college athletics. The second season was the team’s first in division one and the 48-game schedule was loaded with 27 games against Division I opponents, while the other 21 were against teams from the Division II level. This first Division I schedule proved to be an education in itself as NCCU ended up going 6-30 in their rookie Division I season.
The second season for NCCU saw some small successes in a season filled with challenges. With a much-more challenging schedule the Eagles swept its first doubleheader against Savannah State on March 7, 2009 along with slaying its first Division I opponent. NCCU under Dr. Henry White’s direction is headed to the right path, the road along with way has been filled with bumps and detours, but with his knowledge and leadership the road will smooth itself out before too long.
On Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, White was inducted into Saint Augustine's College Falcon Foundation Athletic Hall of Fame for his nearly 30 years of service to his alma mater.
