Alan Hensell is the guest on today’s Coach and Coordinator podcast. Hensell is in his fourth season as tight ends coach at the University of Buffalo. In two of his three seasons at Buffalo, the Bulls have produced an All-Mid-American Conference tight end.

In 2016, Mason Schreck was a second-team All-MAC selection after leading the Bulls with 59 catches for 651 yards. His receiving yard total was the most in school history by a tight end. Schreck was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft , becoming the first Buffalo tight end ever drafted.

In 2015, Hensell coached Matt Weiser, who had arguably the best season by a tight end in school history. Weiser set the school record for receptions by a tight end with 63 en route to earning All-MAC first-team honors. Weiser also became the first player in Buffalo’s FBS era to be named an Academic All-American.

Hensell came to Buffalo after spending the previous two seasons with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team as its wide receivers coach. The Warhawks went 15-0 in 2014 and won the Stagg Bowl, the D-III championship, for the sixth time in eight years.

Hensell came to UWW from D1-AA (FCS) member Gardner-Webb (North Carolina) University, where he was the offensive line coach. During the 2012 season, he helped produce three All-Big South Conference selections, including 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, Indiana 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.

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.

Hensell began his college coaching career at his alma mater, coaching outside linebackers at Franklin (Indiana) College in 2004.

Hensell graduated from Franklin in 2005 with a B.A. in physical education and a minor in health education. He earned a master's degree in science and education from Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2015.

In the podcast, Hensell and host Keith Grabowski talk about his background, the specifics about the tight end position and more.

Show notes

1:22 How the tight end position has evolved

2:11 Hansell's background and journey to Buffalo

3:34 Hansell's experience working with Ed Orgeron at Ole Miss

4:10 Relationship-building is the foundation of his career

5:27 Bringing Wisconsin-Whitewater to a national championship level

7:31 Transition from D-III to D-I recruiting

8:35 The Type of offense Buffalo uses

9:25 Knowing how and when to use tight ends

14:12 Organization and quality of coaching tight ends

15:08 Practice structure

17:37 How to recruit tight ends

25:20 The dynamic role of tight ends

30:54 The Winning edge