McKendree University Men's Ice Hockey

Henson was named as the head coach of the McKendree men's ice hockey program in March 2013. Henson succeeded Bill Misiak, who guided the Bearcats for the first nine seasons of the program's existence. Since becoming the head coach of the McKendree ice hockey squad, Henson and the Bearcats have gone toe-to-toe with some of the best programs among Division 3 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA). For the 2016-17 season, McKendree has grown to two teams, with one moving up to compete at the ACHA Division 2 level with Henson behind the bench. During Henson's tenure, the Bearcats played just 17 of their 66 regular season games on home ice. Yet McKendree has posted 30 victories during that span and has battled for a post-season spot at the ACHA D3 National Championships, finishing the 2015-16 season with a national ranking of No. 11.  McKendree is anticipating a home ice advantage swing in its favor in the near future with the construction of the McKendree Metro Rec Plex. The new facility will be at the heart of a development taking shape in nearby O'Fallon, Ill. The Bearcats will be prime tenants at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex, which will boast two National Hockey League-sized sheets of ice along with a competitive swimming and diving area, locker room and office space, workout and training facilities, and other amenities. The facility is expected to open in December 2016, which will be in time to host McKendree games in the second half of the 2016-17 season. The McKendree hockey program boasts two men's teams, one competing at the ACHA Division 2 level as well as an ACHA Division 3 squad.  Henson has expanded the Bearcats' recruiting base to take more of a national and international flavor. The 2016-17 McKendree rosters boast players from nine states as well as Canada, Serbia, Belarus, Switzerland, and Ukraine.    Henson is certainly no stranger to McKendree. He joined the Bearcats staff in August 2011 as the head coach for the womens golf team and also held duties as the recruiting coordinator for both McKendree golf programs. Henson added responsibilities as the head mens golf coach in the fall of 2012 and continued in those roles through the spring of 2014.   Henson began his hockey coaching career at 22 years old, when he served as an assistant coach at Granite City High School. After serving for two years in that role, Henson moved onto Parkway West High School, where he had a three-year stint as an assistant coach. From 1995-98, Henson gained collegiate coaching experience as an assistant at Washington University.   After returning to the high school ranks to assist with the Collinsville High School program from 2001-03, Henson also helped coach a pair of St. Louis-area select teams. He was associated with both the Twin Bridges Central States Midget Major squad, along with the Twin Bridges Junior Lightning.