Cam Henderson

Eli Camden "Cam" Henderson (February 5, 1890 – May 3, 1956) was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach in the United States. He served as the head football coach at Muskingum College (1920–1922), Davis & Elkins College (1923–1934), and Marshall University (1935–1949), compiling a career college football record of 163–91–13. Henderson was also the head basketball coach at Muskingum (1919–1923), Davis & Elkins (1923–1935), and Marshall (1935–1955), tallying a career college basketball mark of 631–242. As a coach in basketball, he originated the fast break and the 2–3 zone defense, hallmarks of the modern game. His career mark for coaching is 800 wins against just 336 losses and 13 ties, a winning percentage of 70 percent in all sports.

Early life and education

Henderson was born in 1890 in the town of Joe in Marion County, West Virginia. He graduated from Glenville Normal School in 1911.

High School Coaching Career

Henderson began coaching at Shinnston High School in rural West Virginia, then moved to Bristol, West Virginia, where no gymnasium existed on his arrival. Henderson managed to have a gym constructed there, but poorly-cured wood and a leaky roof resulted in a slippery floor. Henderson began to distribute his defenders in "zones" to avoid the slick spots. He then developed an offense of "breaking fast" off a missed basketball, with two forwards tearing down each sideline and a point guard bringing the ball up the court quickly for a number of options. Henderson is credited with the creation of the 2–3 zone defense and the fast break in basketball.