Ashton Henderson Named Senior Deputy Athletic Director & Chief Operating Officer...at George Mason Unversity!
Athletics 5/7/2025 9:00:00 AM
Fairfax, Va. -- George Mason University Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics has announced the appointment of Ashton Henderson as its new Senior Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer. A highly respected national leader in college athletics and professional sports, Henderson brings nearly 15 years of experience spanning collegiate athletics and professional sports with stops at Florida State University, Clemson University, and the Detroit Pistons.
"Ashton Henderson is a dynamic and emerging leader in intercollegiate athletics," said Lewis. "He brings a unique blend of authenticity, strategic insight, and a deep commitment to the holistic development of student-athletes. His ability to foster collaboration across departments, cultivate meaningful relationships throughout the university, and lead in the ever-evolving NIL landscape will be an incredible asset to our program. I have full confidence that Ashton's leadership will elevate the student-athlete experience and further strengthen the championship culture within Mason Athletics. We're proud to welcome Ashton and his wife, Chloe, to the George Mason family!"
As a senior member of the Vice President/Director of Athletics' leadership team, Henderson will oversee the department's daily operations to ensure effective communication, collaboration, and consistent operational execution in support of over 500 student-athletes, 100 full-time employees, and over 200 part-time staff members.
Henderson will champion new strategic initiatives to enhance the student-athlete experience, drive revenue, and galvanize the community. He will collaborate with campus and community partners to advance the athletics program and serve as the program administrator for men's basketball and other varsity athletics programs, including sport supervision responsibilities.
"I am fired up and incredibly honored to join the Mason Nation family," said Henderson. "This is a special institution rooted in excellence, and I am fully committed to serving our student-athletes, coaches, and community with energy, passion, and purpose. I look forward to building meaningful relationships and helping elevate the Patriots to even greater heights."
A former four-year letter winner in football at Michigan State University (2006–09), Henderson most recently served as Deputy Athletic Director for Championship Resources & Culture at Michigan State University, where he provided executive leadership for nine areas: Athletic Training, Spartans Fuel (Nutrition), Athletic Performance, Student-Athlete Wellness, Sports Science & Data Analytics, EverGreen NIL Education & Strategy, Varsity S Club, Student-Athlete Development, & Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DEIB) efforts and served as the sport administration for women's basketball during the 2022-2023 competition season. He also oversaw the university's award-winning "EverGreen" NIL program, which was named the nation's Best Institutional Program at the 2023 NIL Summit.
Before returning to Michigan State University in 2022, Henderson served as the first-ever Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion for the Detroit Pistons, transforming the franchise's DEI framework and earning national recognition as a Sports Inclusion Conference DEI Champion in 2021.
