CLU Sports

Joe Henle used his experiences at CLU and guidance from a coach, friend and professor to discover and pursue his dream of becoming a professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter.

Official Website: Joe "Leonidas" Henle

As a high school student searching for a school to provide academic, athletic and social fulfillment, Henle was immediately drawn to Cal Lutheran.

"I loved the atmosphere," he remembers. "Everyone was smiling and seemed like they were enjoying life at CLU."

During his four-year career with the Kingsmen football team, Henle learned lessons on and off the gridiron from his position coach and CLU alumnus Will Plemons.

"Coach Plemons took our nonstop energy and harnessed it by showing us how to be disciplined and detail oriented while providing a solid work ethic and attitude of how to approach the game," Henle said of his playing days at CLU. "Those attributes translate into various aspects of life including MMA."

Following the completion of his undergraduate degree in business, Henle visited a Westlake gym with fellow alumnus Marcus Green where he witnessed his first MMA training session - an experience that would ultimately alter his career path.

Henle couldn't wait to try out mixed martial arts. After taking his lumps and still wanting more, he knew he was hooked and began training.

While immersing himself in MMA, Henle returned to CLU to pursue his MBA and also served as a graduate assistant coach for the CLU football team. It was during this time that his graduate adviser, business professor Somnath Basu, asked Henle a simple, yet challenging question: "What do you really want to do?"

After completing his MBA and considering all the factors, Henle concluded that his next big step would be pursuing a career in MMA. After eight amateur bouts, Joe "Leonidas" Henle turned professional in July 2009 and went undefeated in his first three fights.

In addition to maintaining a hectic training regimen, Henle is Head Coach of the Thousand Oaks High School wrestling team and an assistant on the high school football coaching staff.

"The experiences at Cal Lutheran have allowed me to mature emotionally, earn a solid education and provide the opportunity to succeed at whatever I ended up pursuing," Henle concluded.

In a professional debut earlier this calendar year Henle was victorious along with earning two more victories along the way. He is currently scheduled to take on Derick Thornton as one of the featured matchups in the MMA at the Fairgrounds: Resurrection to take place in the city of Ventura on Friday, December 18 subject to change.