Former Penn State women’s volleyball assistant coach Michael Henchy was named head coach of UC Santa Barbara on Thursday, the school announced on social media.

“I am thrilled and honored to become the next head coach for UCSB women’s volleyball,” Henchy said in a press release. “UC Santa Barbara was integral to my upbringing and has always been a place I felt a part of when I was on campus. To now lead this great program brings me immense pride, and I will strive to build upon the legacy established by Kathy Gregory and the excellence sustained in the years under Nicole Lantagne Welch and Matt Jones.”

Henchy spent the last two years as an assistant coach for the Nittany Lions, helping Penn State win the 2024 NCAA Championship and developing four first-team All-Big Ten players.

Prior to his time in Happy Valley, Henchy served as the Associate Head Coach at James Madison University and an assistant coach at American University.

The Ventura, California, native now returns to his home state to coach the Gauchos, who went 23-9 and made an exit in the semifinals of the Big West Women’s Volleyball Championship in 2025.