Aaron Henry is in his third season as Illinois' defensive coordinator in 2025 and his fifth on staff with the Fighting Illini. Henry was promoted to Illinois' defensive coordinator in December 2022 after spending two seasons as the Illini's defensive backs coach from 2021-22.

In 2024, Henry led a Fighting Illini defensive unit that improved 62 spots in the national rankings year-over-year to finish 31st in the nation in scoring defense (21.7 ppg). That improvement in Henry’s second campaign as defensive coordinator helped the Illini to a 10-3 record, tying the program's single-season wins record, and a final ranking of #16 in the AP Top 25. The season was capped by a 21-17 victory over #14 South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in one of the biggest bowl wins in program history, as Henry's unit held the Gamecocks to 14 points under their season scoring average and South Carolina's second-lowest scoring output of the season. The Illini defense ranked 10th in the nation with 15 forced fumbles, and the team’s 24 sacks in Big Ten play tied for fifth in the league. Xavier Scott, who ranked second in the Big Ten with four interceptions, earned All-Big Ten First Team honors and was one of 15 semifinalists for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's best defensive back. Outside linebacker Gabe Jacas earned All-Big Ten Third Team accolades, ranking 10th nationally in forced fumbles (3) and 25th in sacks (8.0) during the regular season and had 3.0 tackles for loss in the Illini's bowl victory. The defensive unit also boasted All-Big Ten Honorable Mention nods for defensive lineman TeRah Edwards, linebacker Dylan Rosiek, and defensive back Matthew Bailey, who tied the program's bowl record with 13 tackles in the win over South Carolina.

Henry was the youngest coordinator in the Big Ten when he took over for Illinois at the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl. In his first season as defensive coordinator in 2023, Henry's unit was led by DT Jer'Zhan Newton, the Nagurski-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and the Smith-Brown Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, who went on to become a second-round NFL Draft Pick. Newton was the fourth Illini in history to earn the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award and was later named the program's 22nd Consensus All-American. Five Illini earned All-Big Ten honors in 2023: Newton, DT Keith Randolph Jr., DB Xavier Scott, LB Dylan Rosiek, and OLB Seth Coleman.

Henry become defensive coordinator after leading one of the nation’s best defensive backs units in his first two seasons in Champaign. His time as DBs coach was highlighted by earning the 2022 FootballScoop Defensive Backs Coach of the Year award.

Henry's defensive backs unit was the best in the nation against the pass in 2022, as Illinois led the nation in scoring defense (12.8), interceptions (24), takeaways (32), and passing efficiency defense (92.64). The Illini's pass efficiency defense of 92.64 was more than 10 points better than the next-best defense (Penn State, 103.24), nearly 40 points better than the median pass defense, and trailed only 2013 Michigan State (92.28) for the best in the last decade. Illinois also ranked second in the nation in fewest passing touchdowns allowed (9), second in fewest yards per passing attempt (5.4), eighth in fewest passing yards allowed per game (173.8), as well as seventh in fewest first downs allowed (199), ninth in third down defense (30.1%), and 10th in rushing defense (99.8).

Henry was instrumental in the rise of CB Devon Witherspoon, as the shutdown corner went from relatively unknown to the highest-drafted defensive back in Illinois history in a two-year span. Witherspoon had started 10 games in his first two seasons in Champaign prior to Henry's arrival, then jumped to an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection in 2021 before becoming Illinois' first-ever Consensus All-American defensive back in 2022. Witherspoon was named the Big Ten's Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year and one of three finalists for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, prior to being selected with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks.

After the success of the 2022 season, Illinois had one of its most impressive NFL Drafts in recent history. Witherspoon went No. 5 overall to become the highest-drafted defensive back in Illinois history, and fellow DBs Jartavius Martin and Sydney Brown went in the second and third rounds, respectively. The Illini were the only team in the nation to have three defensive backs off the board in the first three rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft. Witherspoon earned a spot in the NFL's Pro Bowl during his rookie season, joining Dick Butkus as the only Illini in history to earn Consensus All-American, become a first-round pick, and earn a spot in the Pro Bowl in a two-year span.

In Henry's first game as defensive coordinator, the Illinois defense held Mississippi State's offense to only 13 offensive points in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 2, 2023. The Illini were the first team during the 2022 season to intercept Mississippi State's Air Raid offense twice and gave Bulldogs' QB Will Rogers his first red zone interception of the season. 

Henry was part of one of the best defensive turnarounds in the nation in 2021, helping Illinois to a 5-7 record and ranked wins over #7 Penn State and #20 Minnesota. Illinois’ scoring defense (31st from 97th), third down defense (31st from 89th), and total defense (52nd from 114th) all improved more than 50 spots in the national rankings from 2020, thanks in large part to the Illini’s improved pass defense. Illinois led the Big Ten in fewest passing yards allowed in Big Ten games, a jump of nine spots in the Big Ten rankings with 49.5 fewer passing yards allowed per game year-over-year. The Illini made massive gains in the overall Big Ten defensive rankings, as well, jumping nine or more spots in scoring defense (4th from 14th), touchdowns allowed (t-3rd from 14th), and yards allowed per game (5th from 14th). The cornerbacks position group stats improved in nearly every category from the year prior, including passes defended (2.08 from 1.25), TFLs (1.25 from 0.38), and sacks (2.0 from 0.0). 

Henry was a standout player and coached under Bielema at both Wisconsin and Arkansas. He played under Bielema at Wisconsin, where he was an All-Big Ten first team defensive back, earning 32 starts from 2007-11, and helping lead the Badgers to consecutive Big Ten titles and Rose Bowl appearances as a junior and senior.

Henry spent the 2020 season as cornerbacks coach at Vanderbilt after three seasons at North Carolina State. He served as a secondary coach while at NC State, starting with the Wolfpack as a safeties coach in 2017 and working with nickelbacks during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Henry's first full-time coaching position came in 2016 at Rutgers, where he served as defensive backs coach for head coach Chris Ash.

Henry finished his Wisconsin playing career with seven interceptions, 23 defended passes and 181 career tackles. As a senior in 2011, Henry was a All-Big Ten first team performer and quarterfinalist for the LOTT IMPACT Trophy. He earned a bachelor's degree in consumer affairs from Wisconsin in 2011 and completed a master's degree in sports management from Arkansas in 2015.

A native of Immokalee, Florida, Henry played football, basketball,  and baseball and ran track at Immokalee High School. As a wide receiver and defensive back, he helped Immokalee to the 2004 Florida state title and an undefeated regular season in 2006. He was an all-state football player, all-county basketball player, and state qualifier in track.

Henry and his wife, Camille, married in January 2022 and welcomed twins, Harlow Madison and Dakota Savoy, in 2023.