In 2012, Ashley Henderson took over as the head coach of the Valwood Valiants. In his first two seasons, he took the team to a GISA Class AA State Championship (2012) and an appearance in the title game in 2013. Prior to leading the Valiants, he served as an assistant coach at Valdosta High School.
Valwood fans are faithful; they never turn their backs on their team, no matter the outcome. But one fan in particular carries a much more special title than the rest; her name is Megan Henderson. As the head coach’s wife, she has never missed a game.
“Before Ashley and I got married, other coach’s wives would joke with me and ask if I was ready to be a ‘football widow’,” Mrs. Henderson says. “I quickly realized that the term ‘football widow’ is no joke! During football season, I take over all non-football related duties (around the house). I don’t think that people really understand just how much time and effort it takes to prepare for the games on Friday nights. There are a lot of hours spent away from home and away from families, and on days that he is able to get home early, he’s still working until late hours of the night.”
Because they have attended the same church since their youth, Mrs. Henderson and her husband had known each other for a while, but they actually became friends about eight years ago. This December will make five years that they have been married, and they have a two-year-old son named Charlie.
“In six years of football seasons, I think I have maybe missed two (games),” Mrs. Henderson says. “The only reason I missed those games was because they were so far away, and I wasn’t able to leave town in time to make the game.”
To say her life has changed is quite the understatement. Prior to meeting her future husband, Mrs. Henderson admits that, not only did she never watch football; she knew close to nothing about the game at all.
“Now, I’m obsessed,” she says. “When your husband eats, breathes, and dreams football, it’s all you can do to become obsessed too…I look forward to Friday game days every week!”
Anyone that knows Coach Henderson or follows his coaching career knows that he prides himself on routine. He will be the first to tell you that every game day is handled the same way, whether it be a home or road contest. Apparently, the concept is the same throughout the family.
“Every game day is exactly the same for Charlie and me,” Mrs. Henderson says. “I work until noon on Fridays, and then Charlie and I pick up lunch and take it out to Ashley. We stay long enough to eat and for Charlie to make his rounds in the athletic building, and then I take him home for a nap (because game days turn into late game nights). We usually arrive at the field about two hours before the start of the game; Charlie walks on the field with Ashley at the beginning of warm-ups.”
“I’m always cheering the team on,” she says. “I’ve also been known to get pretty heated during games. I’ve even cried at a game before! And after almost every game, I’ll offer advice and criticism. Ashley usually just listens quietly until I get it out of my system.”
Through every moment of Valiant football, whether it is a win or loss, one thing never changes. Megan and Charlie Henderson will be there, seated on the 50-yard-line (about four rows up), cheering for the Valwood Valiants.
“I’ve learned the more involved I become during the season, the more fun it is,” she says. “While there are sacrifices made during football season, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Favorite Teams:
College: Georgia Tech
Pro: “I don’t really care to watch pro football
Favorite Moments (Valwood):
*2012 GISA State Championship Game (Valwood won a state title in Coach Henderson’s first season)
*Valwood’s come-from-behind win over North Florida Christian in the 2014 season. “We were losing by 13 with six minutes left in the game. In the last few minutes, we scored on fourth down to take the lead. Talk about an adrenaline rush!”
South Georgia/August 2015
Football Wife: Megan (Pulido) Henderson
Valwood School
Hahira, Ga.
by James Washington
Photography by Micki K Photography
