Kevin Henschel
Athletic Director, Development Officer, Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach, Golf coach
Tel: (805) 646 4343 Ext 344

Athletics, Residential Life, Outdoor Education
Boys Basketball, Golf

Year Appointed: 1997 - 1998 and 2000 - present



Happy Valley School Class of 93
Attended Oxnard College

Kevin was born and raised in Newbury Park, California. He attended Newbury Park High School for two years and then made the decision to attend Happy Valley School. While at Happy Valley, Kevin was a 3-sport athlete in Soccer, Basketball, and Baseball. In his senior year, the soccer team had a record of 14-1. After graduating, Kevin attended Oxnard City College while working at Sports Chalet. Upon moving to Santa Barbara, Kevin began working at Anacapa School as the Sports Coordinator. Kevin was on faculty at Anacapa School for two years when he was offered a job at Happy Valley School (now known as Besant Hill), as a full-time residential dorm counselor and coach. It was a dream come true to have the opportunity to give back to a school that had given him so much. During his time at Besant Hill, Kevin has coached boys' soccer, girls' volleyball, boys' baseball, boys' volleyball, and boys' basketball. Kevin has earned his coaching certification at the E and D levels through the California Youth Soccer Association. In 2004, he earned his certification as a National D soccer coach. During the summers of 1996-2007 Kevin worked at Camp Walt Whitman in New Hampshire, where over the course of 10 years he worked as a cabin counselor, Director of the Counselor-in-Training Program, and Assistant Athletic Director, overseeing approximately 400 campers in their daily athletic experience.

At Besant Hill School, Kevin is currently the Athletic Director, Development Officer, Assistant Basketball Coach. He works in Outdoor Education and is an AOD in Residential Life. His past roles include Director of Residential Life, Alumni Director, and Residential Dorm Counselor.

Kevin learned of the school from his uncle, Dennis Rice, who was the Head of School for 28 years. After struggling in public school and wanting a deeper educational experience, Kevin applied and enrolled as a junior at Happy Valley School. He graduated in 1993.

Kevin loves the beauty of the land, the people he works with, and making a home in this community. It is his goal to give every student who wants to be a part of the sports program a place to belong and to learn to be part of a team. Additionally, he wants to promote and share this amazing school to a broader audience in his work as a development officer. His goal is to embody our school motto, Aún Aprendo, and pass it on to our students.

In his free time, Kevin plays on a local soccer team, loves to fly fish, golf, and go camping. He is an avid sports fan who loves the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Lakers. He currently lives on campus in the Adobe House with his wife Kelly Henschel, who is the Director of the Instructional Support Program, and his two dogs, Nectar and Chloe.