Michael Henchy Named Penn State Women’s Volleyball Assistant Coach

Posted on by Ethan Kasales

Katie Schumacher-Cawley and the Penn State women’s volleyball program found their new assistant coach in James Madison University’s Michael Henchy, who spent the last three seasons in Harrisonburg, Virginia, announcing the news on social media Monday.

Henchy, who held the title of associate head coach with the Dukes, was a four-year letter winner and two-year captain for the Ohio State men’s volleyball team. He graduated from the university in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in communications. Henchy, a six-rotation outside hitter from Ventura, California, finished his Buckeyes career with 1,001 kills and earned AVCA All-American honorable mention as a senior.

Henchy arrives in State College following the departure of Dan Gwitt to become the head coach at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Gwitt, who accepted the job on February 5, was a member of Schumacher-Cawley’s staff during her first two seasons at the helm of her alma mater. Henchy joins fellow assistant coaches Brian Toron and Megan Hodge Easy at Penn State.

“I am immensely grateful to be joining the Penn State women’s volleyball program,” Henchy said in a press release. “I am excited by the energy and drive of the players, Katie, and the Penn State staff to pursue a national championship, and I’m thrilled to contribute to the volleyball legacy that has been built here in Happy Valley.”

Prior to his time at JMU, where he helped the Dukes reach back-to-back NCAA tournaments in 2022-23, Henchy spent the 2019-20 seasons as an assistant coach at American University under the legendary Barry Goldberg, who sadly passed away at the age of 61 in March 2023 due to cancer following 34 seasons leading the Eagles.

Before joining Goldberg’s staff, Henchy was a graduate assistant for two seasons with the men’s volleyball program at Springfield College in Massachusetts, where he was named the 2019 AVCA Division III Assistant Coach of the Year. Henchy earned a master’s in physical education and advance-level coaching during his time at Springfield.

After playing professionally in Lamia, Greece, Henchy began his coaching career in 2016 as a volunteer assistant with his alma mater, helping the Buckeyes win their third NCAA Men’s National Collegiate Volleyball Championship the following season in 2017.

Henchy met his wife, Ally, who was a cheerleader at Ohio State, during their undergrad years in Columbus. Their son, Calvin, turned 1 on March 31. They have a golden retriever named Scout, who will no doubt also be popular among Henchy’s new players.

Henchy previously coached at Rec Hall during the 2019 NCAA tournament, when the Eagles lost to Towson in the first round in five sets, and again last fall when the Dukes won a set against the Nittany Lions on September 3 before eventually losing 3-1 during the Penn State Invitational.

Henchy’s addition to the Penn State staff provides Schumacher-Cawley with another young, talented coach to help recruit and develop players for the new-look Big Ten, which adds Oregon, Washington, USC, and UCLA this summer.

Henchy and the Nittany Lions will face in-state rival Pitt in a pair of exhibition matches Sunday, April 14 in Oakland at 1 p.m. and Friday, April 19 at 6 p.m. in Rec Hall. Doors open at 5 p.m. for the team’s home match against the Panthers, which is sure to draw significant attention on campus given the stature of both programs.

“I am excited to have Michael join our staff,” Schumacher-Cawley said following Henchy’s hiring. “Mike has a track record of success as a player and coach. He comes to us as a highly recommended and very well-respected member of the coaching profession. He brings great energy, vast volleyball knowledge, work ethic, and a competitive fire that I believe will help our gym tremendously.”