Gary Henderson out as Kentucky Wildcats Baseball Coach

Gary Henderson has resigned as head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats baseball team, UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart announced Wednesday.

Henderson has been the head coach of UK since taking over 2009, when he replaced John Cohen after he left to take the head job at Mississippi State. Since then, Henderson has amassed a 258-199 record over eight seasons.

During Henderson's tenure, UK won at least 30 games in his each of his last five years, the first time in school history that the Cats have won 30 in five straight seasons. He also became the fastest coach to reach 200 wins in school history.

"I am deeply appreciative of the contributions Gary Henderson made during his time here," Barnhart said. "He has poured his heart and soul into Kentucky baseball, giving us many of the best seasons and most thrilling moments in our history while competing in the most difficult league in America."

UK is the second SEC job to open since the end of the 2016 regular season. Former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Mitch Gaspard resigned Monday. Both Bama and UK narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament field and are now looking for new coaches.

Henderson will not be the only UK coach to leave this year. The contracts of both of UK’s full-time assistants – hitting coach Rick Eckstein and recruiting coordinator Toby Bicknell – are set to expire on June 30. Eckstein is a former MLB hitting coach with the Washington Nationals.