LSU close to hiring wide receivers coach

LSU plans to announce the hiring of its new wide receivers coach by the end of the week, and reports Monday indicated it would be Oakland Raiders tight ends coach Adam Henry.

Henry, a former McNeese State player and assistant coach, would replace Billy Gonzales, who resigned earlier this month to become the offensive coordinator at the University of Illinois.

The Times-Picayune, citing “a source close to the football program,” reported that Henry would be the new coach.

LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette said the Tigers were working to finalize a contract and wouldn’t be prepared to announce any hiring until after Wednesday’s start of the national signing period for recruits.

Henry did not return a voice-mail message left on his phone. He fits much of the profile that Tigers coach Les Miles outlined to The Advocate as he was evaluating candidates.

“We’re looking for experience,” Miles said. “It would be helpful if they had NFL (experience), if they had played, if they were coordinating.”

Henry, 39, has been with the Raiders for the past five seasons, the past three as tight ends coach. In 2010, tight end Zach Miller earned his first Pro Bowl berth after leading the team with 60 catches for 685 yards and five touchdowns. The year before that, Miller led the team with career-highs of 66 catches and 805 yards.

In 2007 and 2008, Henry was an offensive quality control assistant with the Raiders.

A native of Beaumont, Texas, Henry was an all-Southland Conference wide receiver at McNeese. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New Orleans Saints in 1994 and was on the team’s practice squad in 1995. He also spent the 1996 training camp and preseason with New Orleans.

Henry spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach at McNeese, serving as assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. He also did a coaching internship with the Cleveland Browns.