CHICAGO - Mai-Loni Henson, who most recently served as an assistant coach at Colorado College, has joined the Ramblers' women's basketball staff in the same position, head coach Allison Guth announced Wednesday. 

"We're thrilled to welcome Mai-Loni to our Rambler family and coaching staff," said Guth. "Mai-Loni will immediately impact the success of our program by elevating our student-athlete experience. It's Mai-Loni's high-level collegiate playing career at the University of Washington, her professional career playing overseas, and her passion for impacting women at holistic level that will make our success and her presence felt immediately."

Through her one-year stint in Colorado Springs, Henson helped the Tigers achieve their first 20-win season in 40 years and an appearance in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Championship Game. Additionally, Henson helped mentor the league's Player and Defensive Player of the Year. It was the program's first time ever receiving the conference's Defensive Player of the Year award.

"I am beyond blessed and excited to join the community at Loyola University Chicago!" said Henson. "I want to thank head coach Allison Guth for this amazing opportunity. It is a privilege to be in such great company and I look forward to being a part of a special group!"

Henson's duties extended beyond on-court coaching at Colorado College. Player development, recruiting, scouting, organizing team community service activities, leadership development, team travel, and managing the program's social media accounts all fell under her umbrella. Furthermore, she helped the women's basketball team form the school's first Black Student-Athlete Association.    

With an emphasis on hard work in the classroom, Henson helped mentor Zoë Tomlinson who earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-American Second Team honors. Tomlinson was just the third player in program history to be named an academic all-American.
A former professional basketball player, Henson played three seasons overseas in France for Le Havre Aplemont (NF1 division) and ASA Aulnoye (LF2 division).

Henson was a standout student-athlete at Washington from 2016-2020 and served as team captain for her final two seasons. Through 123 games, the forward averaged 6.0 points, 1.6 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game. As a freshman, Henson helped the Huskies reach the Sweet 16 for the sixth time in program history before logging the team's second-highest points per game average the following season.

She cut her teeth in coaching first as an assistant at her alma mater, La Jolla Country Day High School, and later as the head coach of the San Diego Bulldogs Youth Club Team.

A native of San Diego, Calif., Henson earned a bachelor's degree in public health from Washington in 2020. She was an active member of the Husky Leadership Academy and landed on the Dean's List her senior year.