Torri Henry joined the Columbia volleyball program as an assistant coach in June of 2025.
Henry joins the staff after a stellar playing career at Stony Brook. In five seasons playing for the Seawolves as a setter, she etched her name in the Stony Brook record book, finishing her career with 4,584 assists, 1,366 digs, and 176 service aces - all in the top-10 in program history.
'We are thrilled to be able to announce Torri Henry as our newest assistant coach,” Santiago said. “As a player, she used her character and work ethic to elevate herself to her maximum potential, leading her conference in assists for three years of her career. Her volleyball IQ, strategic acumen, and competitiveness are undeniable, and her transition into an elite coach is inevitable. Coming from a strong collegiate and club background, Torri will make an immediate impact, especially in driving home the principle that champions execute the simple, basic skills and behaviors better than everyone else. As talented a volleyball player as she is, Torri is an even better human being and checks all of our boxes for character and work ethic. She will be especially valuable to our setters and offense. We are beyond excited to see the impact she will have with our team and to see her coaching journey unfold."
The two-time CAA all-conference honoree led the CAA in assists in 2023 and 2024 and was named the CAA Setter of the Year in 2023.
Off the court, her leadership shone. She served as a SAAC representative at Stony Brook and was the president of the Black Student Athlete Huddle. This organization was responsible for representing the interests, concerns, and needs of Black student-athletes. She planned, organized, and executed bi-weekly events such as speaker panels, cultural celebrations, and community service activities.
While still a student-athlete, she began her coaching career teaching private lessons. She would work with aspiring athletes, focusing on advanced footwork and body positioning, and design individualized drills and practice plans to address specific setting weaknesses to improve technique. This spring, she served as an assistant coach on the Stony Brook staff where she supported recruiting efforts, and helped facilitate practices running drills, providing technical feedback and tactical guidance to student-athletes to enhance performance and consistency.
“I am truly honored to join Columbia volleyball and begin my coaching career in such an inspiring environment,” Henry said. “I’m grateful to Coach Santiago for trusting me to be part of the culture and foundation he is building here. Columbia’s tradition of excellence, combined with the energy and diversity of New York City, makes this an incredible place to grow as a coach and as a person. From the moment I met the staff and student-athletes, I could feel how special this program is, and I can’t wait to contribute to its future. Roar Lion Roar!”
“Torri is a future star in our coaching profession and will be a tremendous addition to Columbia’s athletic department and coaching staff,” Stony Brook head coach Kristin Belzung said. “Not only does she already have a great mind for the game, but she has proven over her playing career to be a tireless worker and has a desire to continue to learn and grow. In addition, she placed value on developing holistically, and I anticipate her being able to connect that mindset to the student-athletes she gets to work with.”
The native of Belton, Mo., graduated from Stony Brook with a degree in psychology and political science. In May, she completed a Master of Business Administration with a concentration on innovation at Stony Brook.
