After years of inspiring elementary students as a physical education teacher, James Henson has taken a major step toward a once-forgotten dream: opening his own sports training facility for youth. Having graduated with a master’s degree in human performance and fitness from Trevecca this May, he’s become focused on turning his vision into reality.
He hopes to launch his business within the next few years and is carefully weighing financial strategies, aiming to self-fund the gym if possible. His facility will focus on developing young athletes, from age five to post-high school, in strength, agility, coordination and sport-specific skills.
“I want it to be a community-driven space,” he said. “It’s not about making money. It’s about making an impact and helping kids grow into the best versions of themselves. I plan to hire trainers with expertise in different areas like basketball, football, strength training and others so we can meet kids where they are and help them reach their potential.”
The warehouse-style gym will be built from the ground up.
“I’ve always loved teaching and coaching,” Henson said. “But opening a gym had been a dream that I had forgotten about for a while—until life reminded me of it.”
When he was growing up in Savannah, Tenn., sports were central to Henson’s life. He played football, baseball and ran track, with hopes of becoming a collegiate athlete. Unfortunately, back-to-back ACL injuries sidelined those ambitions, but he stayed active by joining the rugby team. His passion for movement and physical activity ultimately led him to become a P.E. teacher. Over the years, alongside that role, he has coached middle and high school teams in softball, rugby, baseball and basketball.
As both a coach and educator, Henson saw firsthand how early athletic involvement shapes kids, not just physically, but emotionally and socially.
“Kids who play sports develop coordination, balance, endurance, confidence and character,” Henson said. “Those skills translate to all areas of life.”
After going through a difficult divorce, Henson found himself at a crossroads that would impact his own life on a number of levels, including his faith and his career goals.
“It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever faced,” Henson said. “But that’s when I turned to God. I started going to church, studying the Bible and praying constantly. And through that, I remembered my old dream. I remembered I wanted to open a gym.”
That renewed clarity led him to take practical steps and research graduate programs that would give him both the technical foundation and business knowledge to open a facility. That’s when he discovered Trevecca’s Master of Science in human performance and fitness.
“I chose Trevecca because the program combined fitness and business,” Henson said. “I didn’t know much about business but I knew I needed that side of the education to bring my dream to life.”
As a full-time teacher, Henson knew earning a master’s degree would require intentionality and commitment. But the online format, engaging content and support from both professors and peers, with whom he actively built connections, made it possible.
“The days were long sometimes,” Henson said. “But I never dreaded it. I loved what I was learning, and I knew it was preparing me for my calling.”
Henson took multiple business courses that challenged him to approach problems as both an athletic trainer and a business owner. From writing business plans to exploring funding strategies, he gained tools that he knew would be vital for his facility.
“I still have more to learn, but I feel so much more prepared than I did before,” Henson said. “Trevecca helped give me the foundation to actually take action.”
Thanks to the impression he made on his instructors, Henson served as one of the graduate speakers at Trevecca’s 2025 commencement ceremony on May 3.
“I wouldn’t be here without Trevecca, my professors, my peers—and ultimately, without God,” he said. “This whole path has been guided by faith, and I’m just walking through the doors that have opened.”
