Aaron Henderson was named the Fresno Pacific University Director of Athletics in August 2015, returning to his alma mater where he previously served as Assistant Athletics Director.
Henderson, who was on staff at FPU from 2006-2013, worked his way up to Assistant A.D. and established himself as one of the up-and-coming young leaders in the region, overseeing all event operations for the department while playing a critical role on the administrative team that successfully transitioned the university from the NAIA to NCAA Division II.
He left FPU in 2013 to become the Athletics Director at Immanuel High School in Reedley, where he spent two years overseeing 18 sports and nearly 60 coaches as the director of all athletics programs K-12. During that span IHS turned into one of the premier high school programs in the state, experiencing significant enrollment growth, expanded sport programs, facility upgrades and never-before-seen media attention.Â
Henderson originally came to FPU in 2006 as an undergrad after transferring from College of the Sequoias in Visalia. He became heavily involved in both athletics and campus life and was a member of both the men’s basketball team and the track & field team. His leadership potential was evident from the start as he transitioned from student-athlete into a full assistant coach role with the men’s basketball team while still an undergrad. He was instrumental not only in the team’s success on the court but in the positive impact he had on the lives of the student-athletes within the program.
As the lead assistant, Henderson was the one constant for the program while working under three head coaches during the most successful seven-year stretch in program history. The Sunbirds went 139-81 during his tenure as he helped lead the team to the two best single season records in school history, including a school record 26 wins in 2009, and three national tournament appearances. In his final season with the team, the school’s first in the NCAA Division II Pacific West Conference, he helped lead the Sunbirds to the NCCAA Final Four.
As those in leadership took notice of Henderson’s natural ability to lead and take charge, he was given increased responsibility with the day-to-day operations of the entire department. Upon graduation in 2008 he took on the administrative role of events management director in addition to his coaching and was later promoted to assistant athletics director.
In this role he oversaw numerous large-scale events on the FPU campus including the NAIA men’s soccer national championships and the NAIA baseball World Series Opening Round. He managed multiple budgets, frequently developed positive collaborations with other departments on campus, coordinated community service events as the staff advisor for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and gained knowledge of NCAA rules and compliance.Â
Henderson also spent two years teaching as an adjunct faculty member in the FPU department of kinesiology.
A native of Exeter, Calif., Henderson attended Exeter Union High School where he competed in basketball, water polo, tennis and swimming before moving on to College of the Sequoias. While at COS he landed his first job in athletics, returning to his high school to coach with the girl’s basketball team and leading the school to a Valley title and the best season in program history.
Henderson holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in kinesiology from FPU. He is married to former FPU volleyball player Brittany (Pierce), a four-year starter and two-time national champion for the Sunbirds who now coaches locally at Clovis North High School. The two reside in Clovis with their daughter, Taylen Marie.
