Alan Hensell enters his second season with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team as its wide receivers coach.
In 2013, two wide receivers earned All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference accolades, including first team honoree Jake Kumerow. A second team All-West Region selection by d3football.com, Kumerow set school records for receiving yards (1,331) and receiving touchdowns (19) in one season. The team's strong receiving corps helped the Warhawks post a 15-0 record en route to the program's fifth Stagg Bowl national championship in seven seasons.
Hensell brings tremendous experience to the program after coaching at college football's highest level since 2007.
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Hensell came to UWW from D1-AA (FCS) member Gardner-Webb (N.C.) University, where he was the offensive line coach. During the 2012 season, he helped produce three All-Big South Conference selections, inlcluding left guard Jamie Dunaway, who received third team All–America honors. A total of four players have garnered All–America honors while being tutored by Hensell.
A New Carlisle, Ind., native, Hensell spent time at the University of Connecticut as an offensive quality control coach in February 2012 before joining the Gardner-Webb staff.
Hensell spent the previous five seasons in the Southeastern Conference, including the 2011 season as assistant offensive line coach and offensive graduate assistant at Ole Miss. He worked with the Rebels' offensive line and tight ends in 2011, helping mentor right tackle Bobby Massie, who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
In 2010, Hensell served as assistant offensive line coach and offensive intern at the University of Tennessee, where he had the opportunity to coach center James Stone, who earned freshman All-America honors for the Vols. Tennessee was selected to play in the Music City Bowl following the regular season.
Hensell worked his first stint at Ole Miss from 2007-09, working as assistant offensive line coach in 2008 and 2009. The Rebels were 9-4 in each of those seasons, finishing the seasons with AP ranks of Nos. 14 and 20, respectively, and won a pair of Cotton Bowls. In 2008, Ole Miss averaged 407.6 yards of total offense per game and 186.5 yards per game on the ground. Left tackle Michael Oher earned first-team All-America honors and was taken in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. In 2009, the Rebels averaged 402.4 yards per game of total offense, including 183.6 on the ground. Standout offensive lineman John Jerry earned first-team All-America honors that season and was picked in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.
Hensell began his college coaching career at his alma mater, coaching outside linebackers at Franklin (Ind.) College in 2004. Hensell also served as a student assistant baseball coach during his time at Franklin, helping the team to a 29-15 record, a Heartland Conference championship and a No. 24 national ranking in 2005.
Following his time on staff at Franklin, Hensell moved on to coach quarterbacks at UW-River Falls in 2005 and 2006. He helped tutor Jeremy Wolff, one of only three signal callers in Division III selected to play in the Aztec Bowl, to All-WIAC honors in 2006.
Hensell started his career in coaching in 2003 at Decatur Central (Ind.) High, coaching quarterbacks following a career-ending injury on the college gridiron.
As a student-athlete, Hensell played two sports at Franklin as a freshman, lining up at running back and receiver, and pitching for the Grizzlies' baseball team. He helped the baseball squad to a 32-10 record, a Heartland Conference title and a No. 30 national ranking as a freshman in 2002. He came to Franklin from New Prairie (Ind.) High School, where he was a three-sport standout in football, basketball and baseball, earning 10 letters throughout his prep career.
Hensell graduated from Franklin in 2005 with a B.A. in physical education (K-12) and a minor in health education.
