Lyle Henley was promoted to Assistant Head Coach for the 2025 season while continuing his long-standing role as UAB’s Director of Sports Performance. A foundational figure in the Blazers’ modern era, Henley has been with the program since its return to competition in 2016 and has played a key role in all 57 victories during that span. His tenure includes three bowl wins, three Conference USA divisional titles, and two Conference USA championships. Widely respected as one of the top strength and conditioning coaches in the country, Henley has been instrumental in developing UAB student-athletes into professional prospects, helping 13 players reach the NFL during his time in Birmingham.
Henley’s impact in player development extends beyond UAB. Throughout his career, including his decade operating Athlete Factory, a private training facility in Spanish Fort, Alabama (2005-15), he has worked with nearly 100 NFL signees, including 23 first-round draft picks. He also contributed to Spanish Fort High School’s four Alabama State Championships. A former linebacker and tight end at Louisiana Tech, Henley began his coaching career at Alabama before returning to Louisiana Tech as head strength coach. He and his wife, Nicki, have two children, Gage and Jocie.
