A member of the Laker Nation since 2018, Ross Henderson was named the sixth ever women’s soccer head coach in December of 2021. Henderson served as an assistant coach for three seasons before being elevated to head coach. Ross has recently achieved his UEFA B-License Diploma in Berlin, Germany, and is aiming to continue his soccer education over the next few years.
Career Highlights
- 24 career wins
- Nine CSC Academic All-District Selections
- Seven All-Conference Players
- Two D2CCA All-Southeast Region Selection
- Two United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Selection
- One D2CCA All-America Selection
- One National Player of the Week
- One Elite 16 Award Winner
The 2024 season saw the Lakers reach new heights under the direction of Coach Henderson. Clayton State earned the most wins in the program since 2019 and tied its program record for the fewest losses in a season. Henderson guided three all-conference performers headlined by Carrie Consolino who also earned a USC and D2CCA All-Region selection and a D2CCA All-America honor. Carrie is the first Laker since Maria Marti Bartis in 2014 to earn All-America honors. Consolino finished the season with 19 goals which was second in the PBC and tied for second nationally. Offensively, the Lakers scored 40 goals which is the most in a season since 2014. Defensively, led by All-PBC performers Daniela Gularte and Trinity Chastain, held opponents to only 16 goals which is the fewest since 2005 and the third fewest in program history. Henderson also guided Amiah Sprunger-Hightower, who became only the sixth Laker to earn three All-PBC honors. Amiah was second on the team with 11 goals and led the team with six assists. Under the direction of Ross Henderson, three Lakers were selected as CSC Academic All-District honors.
The 2023 season was a huge improvement for Coach Henderson and the Lakers. The Lakers went 7-7-3 and captured their first .500 or better season since 2019. Henderson guided Amiah Sprunger-Hightower to a first-team All-Conference selection as well as D2CCA and United Soccer Coaches All-Region nods. Sprunger-Hightower is the first Laker to earn all-region honors since 2015. He also guided Chloe Flannaghan, who earned second-team All-PBC honors. Chloe finished with six goals and six assists. Under the leadership of Henderson, the Lakers went 4-1-2 in non-conference play and started the season, 2-0-2. Peach Belt Conference (PBC) wins this season include USC Aiken, GCSU, who also upset the No. 1 Catawba Indians later in the season, and Albany State, where the Lakers won 10-0. 10 goals is tied for the second-most goals scored in a match in program history. The Lakers earned the sixth seed in the PBC Tournament but eventually lost to Flagler, 3-1, in the quarterfinals.
During the 2022 season, Henderson was in his first, full year as Head Coach. The Lakers went 3-10-2 and went 3-5-2 in the Peach Belt Conference. In the same year, the Lakers upset the, at the time, No. 20 Flagler Saints at Laker Field on Monday, October 3rd, 3-0. Henderson guided freshman Amiah Sprunger-Hightower to a second-team All-PBC selection. The Lakers made it to the PBC Tournament but they ran into a tough Columbus State side that was No. 3 in the country.
During the 2021 season, Henderson took over as acting head coach after Fergal Forde stepped aside for personal reasons. Sitting at 0-2-1 at the time of the coaching change, the Lakers finished the season by going 6-5-0 in the final 11 games.
During that season, the Lakers faced the No. 1 team in the country and then the No. 2 team in the country, both conference opponents. Clayton State closed the regular season with three-straight wins, including a pair of 1-0 wins over North Georgia and Young Harris. With those wins, the Lakers secured the fourth seed in the conference tournament and a home tournament game, the first since 2006.
The Lakers fell in the opening round of the tournament but had a lot to look back on. Three players were named Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week while Valentina Bonaituo was named the United Soccer Coaches Division II National Player of the Week, marking the first ever occasion in program history.
Bonaiuto and Reia Henry also earned second-team All-Conference honors while Isabel Massa was named the women’s soccer Elite 16 Award Winner, the third ever in Clayton State Athletics history.
The 2020 season was moved to the spring of 2021 and the Lakers were set for a 10-game, conference only schedule. They managed six games, going 3-3, all being one-score games.
In 2019, the Lakers put together a magical run that saw them reach the PBC Championship Match. Prior to that game, Clayton State advanced past the first round on a 4-1 PK result over UNC Pembroke before upsetting No. 18 UNG 5-4 on PKs. In the championship match, Clayton State took the No. 3 Flagler Saints to overtime and were looking for a bit more magic, but the Saints were able to win the title in the first overtime.
That season saw Manoly Baquerizo be named second-team All-Region and first-team All-Conference. Jane Brouer was also named an All-Conference selection.
Henderson’s debut season with Clayton State came in 2018. The Lakers posted a 6-6-4 record after opening season with a 3-0-2 record.
During his time as an assistant, Ross helped coach three CoSIDA Academic All-District selections and one CoSIDA Academic All-American.
Prior to Clayton State, Ross played professionally for Myrtle Beach Mutiny of the National Premier Soccer League from 2014-17. During that time, he helped lead the club to a South Atlantic Division Championship from 2014-16. He serves as team captain in 2016.
Henderson played his collegiate soccer at Erskine from 2012-15. He started 57 games and scored 19 goals while adding 11 assists for 49 points. He was a three-time All-Conference Carolina selection and earned first-team honors in 2013 after recording eight goals and two assists in 14 games. He was a team captain his final two seasons.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology a minor in business administration. He holds a B-Tec Diploma in sports development, coaching and performance from Lincoln College in England.
Henderson Year by Year
| Season |
Record |
Pct. |
Conf. Record |
Conf. Pct. |
Result |
| 2021 |
6-5-0 |
.545 |
6-3 |
.667 |
PBC Quarterfinals |
| 2022 |
3-10-2 |
.200 |
3-5-2 |
.375 |
PBC Quarterfinals |
| 2023 |
7-7-3 |
.411 |
3-5-1 |
.333 |
PBC Quarterfinals |
| 2024 |
8-3-6 |
.470 |
3-2-4 |
.333 |
PBC Quarterfinals |
Updated 1.3.2025
