Dayton Docket

By Carole Judge

Like hitting the sweet spot, Blake Henderson ’17 propelled his career by making the right contacts for the greatest impact. First baseball, now golf. Both sports figure in the trajectory of his life and work, but even he could not have predicted his path would lead from playing ball in college, to Dayton Law, and now to a legal job as Senior Director, Athletic Policy and Development with the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).

Originally from Pittsburgh, Henderson’s journey from Dayton to Daytona Beach, where the LPGA is headquartered, is one of opportunity where he combined his interests – and where he made strategic moves, sometimes during difficult times.

“I attended UD as a freshman, but then I transferred out to play baseball at California University of Pennsylvania, said Henderson, who added, “I looked forward to returning for law school because I remembered the strong sense of community.” He found it again at the law school where he made lifelong friends who he insisted, “got him through.”  

“When I first entered law school, I was particularly interested in business and contract law. And, in my current role, I frequently review contracts and assist with drafting policies and regulations,” he admitted, but Henderson also developed a strong interest in property law, largely due to the influence of Professor Blake Watson. 

“He seemed different and was able to connect with students,” shared Henderson about a favorite professor who provided great examples and cases to help him learn. He reminisced, “Professor Watson got me interested in areas of law I wasn’t interested in, like the home buying process, and I know he prepared us all for success.” 

Henderson’s advice to students and new lawyers is to be willing to learn new things and remember your first job might not be a perfect fit.

“Remain adaptable,” advised the young lawyer who wanted to pursue working in sports at the highest level. But he knew he needed to start somewhere, so he began at a company that provided drug testing for athletes, including young athletes hoping to make it to the big leagues.

“Then the pandemic hit, and my company moved into Covid testing, helping teams get back on the field,” he explained. This is when Henderson made a strong connection with the LPGA where he eventually was hired. Today he is involved in helping golfers who play at the highest level by caring for their legal needs, from health care to childcare, and he’s proud to write contracts that are in the best interest of players.

“It’s important to care for the whole person, including adding the mental health piece where we map out care plans. And for players who are mothers, we want them to be able to continue their career, competing at that high level knowing their kids are being cared for too,” said Henderson, whose own family history gave him perspective.

“My father was an athletic trainer in Major League Baseball for 25 years which allowed me to interact with some of the best athletes in the world from a young age. Our family moved frequently to follow new opportunities, teaching me early on the importance of flexibility in pursuing success in sports. As a professional, I’ve had the privilege of traveling around the world to support clients and work with players. I feel fortunate to carrying on my family’s legacy of serving athletes from a player care perspective.”

Henderson may not have predicted his own path, but he goes the distance for others.