DC’s Henderson relishes opportunity at NWCA/SportsLife CEO Leadership Academy 

DEFIANCE, Ohio - Defiance College men's wrestling head coach Jake Henderson was recently selected to attend the National Wrestling Coaches Association/SportsLife CEO Leadership Academy in Edwardsville, Ill., held May 12-14, 2025. Henderson was also among an exclusive group to be awarded a full scholarship to participate in this comprehensive college wrestling coaches training program.

Henderson, who is entering his second season as the head coach of the Yellow Jackets, participated in the CEO Leadership Academy as part of a two-day mentor-mentee experience. He was paired with Grand View University head coach Nick Mitchell, who has won 13 NAIA national titles in 14 seasons. 

"Coach Mitchell is hands down one of the best in the country," says Henderson. "Having the opportunity to sit and talk with him for nearly 20 hours was a true blessing. I was able to ask him about their program and how he built it from scratch. When he founded the program, Grand View was very similar to Defiance College wrestling today – facilities, resources, support from administration and being in a hot spot for wrestling."

Coach Henderson gained insight into all aspects of running a successful college wrestling program, including fundraising, recruiting, team culture, leadership, and the finer operational details. He left the academy energized and excited to apply what he learned to the Defiance program. Henderson also noted that many of the key principles emphasized during the academy are already being implemented by his coaching staff, which gave him confidence in his current direction while offering refined strategies for growth.

The CEO Leadership Academy is part of the NWCA's effort to create sustainable wrestling programs through a holistic leadership development approach. The program helps coaches grow beyond the technical aspects of the sport, focusing on areas such as communication, fundraising, marketing, program organization, and academic success.

Next, Henderson will continue his professional development by attending the annual NWCA Convention this August in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

-JACKETS-