Former Bruin Jamie Henderson Steps Into First-Ever Sporting Director Role at Union Omaha
When Jamie Henderson landed in Bellevue, Nebraska, with the opportunity to play collegiate soccer, he wasn’t chasing fame – he was chasing possibility. A lifelong soccer athlete in the U.K., he, like many young players, had dreams of becoming a professional athlete. However, when that didn’t materialize, the opportunity to play and learn at Bellevue University changed everything.
Jamie had never visited the U.S. before, but the moment he was offered a scholarship to play for the Bruins, it felt like the right fit.
“It was an opportunity my family and I felt was too good to pass up. I kind of jumped,” he said. “I knew in the worst-case scenario, I could go back home. But coming to Bellevue University was one of the best decisions I’ve made.”
A Turning Point
Jamie arrived in Nebraska at just 18 and decided to pursue a degree in Health & Human Performance. But halfway through, he realized that with only a few more courses, he could double major in Bellevue’s Sport Management program, too — a decision that would shape both his professional ambitions and his personal confidence.
In his early years, he struggled academically. “I’ve never been a good student,” Jamie confessed. “My main focus was playing soccer.”
But a turning point came when Dr. Brenda Mechels, Jamie’s professor and Program Director in the Sport Management program, sat him down and challenged him. “She said, ‘I see something in you. Stop messing around,’” Jamie recalls. “That was the turning point moment.”
Suddenly, school wasn’t just a requirement — it was his ticket to stay on the field. “If I want to get on that field and play, I have to do well in class,” he said. “The only way to graduate was to be successful in class. To get where I want to be, I’m going to have to do better.” That realization, and maturity, pushed him to invest fully in his education.
Dr. Mechels also remembers that conversation. “When Jamie first came to BU, he had potential. He could see the bigger picture of concepts and got along with everyone so well, but he just wasn’t driven by his education. Once he focused on being a professional on the business side of sport, his work ethic and attention to detail shone. He worked hard in classes and gained confidence while at BU. That, coupled with his personal attributes, opened doors for him.”
It still took a few months, but then Jamie began to see a shift in his attitude and aspirations. “I started to believe what Brenda was saying to me and trusted that she was going to help me,“ Jamie remembers. “Coming from the U.K., you realize quickly the opportunities you have here in this country that may be limited in the U.K. I realized that I was really starting to enjoy the sport management side of things and thought that if I apply myself correctly here, I can be in this business as I wish.”
Learning the Business of Soccer
After graduation, Jamie traded his cleats in and became the Director of Player Development at Papillion Soccer Club. Then, he shifted to a role with Hudl, a leading sports technology and video company. At Hudl, he found a passion beyond playing: scouting, video analytics, and contract negotiations. He helped roll out the company’s Wyscout platform, a tool he now uses daily to evaluate players worldwide.
His Bellevue education made the transition from athlete to professional possible. He draws on lessons in finance, ethics, leadership, and communication — all of which are rooted in his Sport Management coursework. “Understanding CBAs [collective bargaining agreements] in class … that's exactly what I do now with agents. And when working with players, being the middle-man, I draw on my communication and team-building skills,” Henderson says.
He also came to embrace the value of networking — something Bellevue faculty had long encouraged. “Dr. Mechels kept saying, ‘Get a LinkedIn account,’ and I resisted. But once again, she was right. That networking helped me transition from Hudl to my role with Atlanta United (a Major League Soccer team).”
A New Chapter: Sporting Director at Union Omaha
After a few years working in professional soccer with Atlanta United, Jamie embraced a new challenge: becoming the first Sporting Director at Union Omaha, returning to the Bellevue/Omaha area where it all began.
In this role, he’s the bridge between players, coaches, and the front office. He notes that 80% of his day is learning about potential players utilizing the Hudl technology he once promoted to other clubs. He is involved in player contracts, coaching staff decisions, and long-term planning. Every day, the goal is to ask: “How do we align the technical side with the business side, so we remain competitive, sustainable and continue to grow this club?”
One key to his leadership mindset is remembering, it’s not just about performance — it’s about people.
“If our players leave here better people than when they arrived, I’ve done my job,” Jamie says. He believes growth extends beyond the club: “My recruitment process becomes easier if guys know that Union Omaha is a club known for helping shape a player’s future.”
While some might question a move from the MLS league to the United Soccer League (USL), Jamie frames it differently. “On paper, maybe I dropped a league. But this is real progression. I can make an impact here, and I’ve always dreamed of being a Sporting Director.”
He points to emerging trends — especially the idea of promotion and relegation in the future of the USL — as signs of growth in the U.S. soccer landscape. Relegation is a system in soccer where team that perform poorly are demoted to a lower-level league for the next season, while the best-performing teams in that lower league are promoted to replace them. “Having some jeopardy makes clubs better,” he says. “It’s better for the fans, and the players; that’s how you grow.”
Giving Back: Paying It Forward at Bellevue
Jamie has returned to Bellevue to speak with current Sport Management students. His message is honest, grounded, direct: “I was once you. I sat in the back of class on my phone, maybe not paying attention as I should have. But by applying myself, by believing in myself, you can be here, too.”
He doesn’t sugarcoat the truth: working in sports isn’t glamorous 24/7. It’s unpredictable, ruthless, and relationship-driven. However, he encourages students to ask questions, lean into rejection and build connections. “Be brave and say yes to opportunities,” he said. “Ask questions. Keep putting yourself out there.”
Dr. Mechels hopes that one day Jamie might consider becoming an adjunct faculty member for the University. “I’ve put the idea out to him on how he might bring real-world experience to our students. Wouldn’t that be a full-circle moment!”
Sports can be unpredictable, ruthless and relationship-driven, but be brave and say yes to opportunities. Ask questions. Keep putting yourself out there.
Building a Legacy — On and Off the Pitch
For Jamie, he finds great excitement waking up every day and “building a soccer team.” His father reminds him constantly: “How lucky are you — to come to work each day and do what you love?”
His goals for Union Omaha are ambitious. Yes, he wants championships. But more than that, he wants to cultivate character, resilience, and opportunities. He firmly believes that the partnership between Bellevue University and USL is one that will continue to build those opportunities for players and staff, as well as his alma mater.
“Players know that their careers won’t last forever,” he said. “When a player ends their professional career on the pitch, there is a lot of life left to live. The education partnership between Bellevue University and the USL allows them to say ‘okay, my life after soccer is going to be this.’ And if, say, they would also choose a sport management degree, they can apply all the knowledge they’ve gained in this futball club and then take that, use that, and leverage that. It’s such a great opportunity. I think more people should take advantage of it. It’s about preparing for life after the game.”
Looking Back on a Transformative Journey
Reflecting on his Bellevue University experience, Jamie is without doubt. “I can’t speak highly enough of Bellevue. I wouldn’t be in this position now without it. I just wouldn’t be.” He calls his four years there “incredible — personally and professionally.” He met lifelong friends, built relationships, and even met his wife.
“I wouldn’t have changed my years at Bellevue University for anything. There is nowhere else I would have gone that would have been a better experience,” he says. “My time at Bellevue was amazing.”
