Mike Henchen, the defining figure in shaping St. John Fisher University’s cross country and track and field teams, announced his retirement from coaching in June 2026 after 16 decorated years with the Cardinals’ programs.
Henchen, hired before the inaugural seasons for each program in 2011, began his run at Fisher as the interim head coach for the men’s and women’s cross country and track and field teams. He earned a promotion to become the permanent head coach of all six programs a year later and remained in that role until 2023, when he narrowed his responsibilities to coaching the Cardinals’ cross country teams and track distance runners.
The Cardinals won three Empire 8 Conference team titles in women’s cross country, three in women’s indoor track and field, two in women’s outdoor track and field, five in men’s indoor track and field and three in men’s outdoor track and field under Henchen. Additionally, he coached two individual Empire 8 champions in women’s cross country, four in men’s cross country and dozens between the men’s and women’s indoor/outdoor track and field teams.
Along with his coaching staff, Henchen had an integral role in the development of numerous regional champions and 32 total NCAA All-Americans in track and field (14 indoor, 18 outdoor). That collection includes three men’s track and field athletes who won national titles, headlined by four-time high jump champion Kyle Rollins (3x outdoor, 1x indoor). Mark VanMarter won the long jump in the 2018 indoor national meet, and Peter Girardi claimed the 400-meter hurdles title in the 2018 outdoor national meet.
The Cardinals also had a pair of cross country athletes compete on the national stage under Henchen. Miles Cohen-Rath qualified for the NCAA Division III Championship in 2011, while Riley Corey became the first national qualifier for the women’s program in 2021.
Henchen garnered Empire 8 Coach of the Year honors 18 times throughout his career. He won the award 15 times alone for his work with the Cardinals’ men’s and women’s track and field programs.
Before his time at Fisher, Henchen coached cross country and track and field at Geneseo High School. Geneseo won multiple sectional titles in both sports and captured state championships in girls cross country in 2007 and boys cross country in 2010.
From Dansville, New York, Henchen graduated from Syracuse University and accepted a commission with the United States Army in 1979. While serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in Belgium, he coached the track and field teams at the Brussels American School and led the men’s team to divisional titles from 1999-2001 in addition to coaching the individual European 800-meter champion in 2000. Henchen returned to the United States in 2002 and soon after became a teacher at Geneseo High School.
