Karsen Henderlong Bio
Karsen Henderlong is an American soccer player who plays as a forward for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL Championship. Standing 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) tall, he wears jersey number 14 and is recognized as a goalscoring presence in the forward line. Having played college soccer for Xavier University and Indiana University, he began his professional career with Indy Eleven in 2024 and continued with FC Naples before joining Tampa Bay.
Early Life and Background
Karsen Henderlong was born on September 24, 2000, in Crown Point, Indiana, United States. He grew up in the same northwest Indiana community where he would later attend high school, grounding his early athletic development in a region with a strong soccer tradition. His local roots in Crown Point helped shape his early path into competitive youth soccer.
During his formative years, Henderlong joined the Indiana Fire Academy, where he developed between 2016 and 2019. The academy provided a structured environment that paired him with high-level coaching and competitive matches. He also attended Crown Point High School, representing the school in varsity soccer while continuing to train with his club teammates.
Path to Soccer
Henderlong’s rise through the youth ranks was supported by his time at Indiana Fire Academy, which is also connected to the Chicago Fire’s broader youth soccer development network. This environment gave him exposure to professional-style training and tactical instruction at a young age. His performances there earned him attention from college programs in the region.
That attention translated into a collegiate career at Xavier University, where Henderlong spent three seasons from 2019 to 2021. He recorded 22 goals across 45 total appearances and earned recognition as a first-team All-Big East selection in 2021, along with a second-team honor in 2020. He then transferred to Indiana University for two seasons, making 46 appearances and scoring 10 goals while helping the Hoosiers reach the NCAA Tournament.
Karsen Henderlong Career
Early Career (2019–2023)
Henderlong’s first notable stretch came at Xavier University, where he developed into a consistent goalscorer in the Big East Conference. His 22 goals in 45 appearances established him as one of the program’s reliable attacking threats during his three-year tenure. Conference coaches acknowledged his production with All-Big East honors in both 2020 and 2021.
After transferring to Indiana University, Henderlong continued his upward trajectory in the Big Ten. He played in 46 matches and scored 10 goals across two seasons, including a hot stretch in October 2023 when he scored three goals in two weeks to help Indiana qualify for the NCAA Tournament. He added a clutch 73rd-minute equalizer in a 3–2 overtime win against Wake Forest in the second round on November 19, 2023.
USL Championship Debut with Indy Eleven (2024)
On February 8, 2024, USL Championship side Indy Eleven announced the signing of Henderlong ahead of the 2024 season. He made his professional debut in a 2–1 away loss to Oakland Roots on March 9, 2024. Henderlong was released by the club following the 2024 season after making five total appearances, ending his first professional chapter without a goal but with valuable minutes at the second tier of American soccer.
FC Naples Era (2025)
On January 10, 2025, USL League One expansion team FC Naples announced they had signed Henderlong for the 2025 season. He debuted in the team’s season opener, a 1–1 home draw against Chattanooga Red Wolves on March 8. On March 15, he scored both goals in a 2–0 victory over Forward Madison, recording the first goals of his professional career and helping Naples secure its first-ever competitive victory. The performance earned him a spot on the USL League One Team of the Week.
Henderlong continued his scoring run with the opening goal in Naples’ first-round U.S. Open Cup win over USL League Two side Sarasota Paradise on March 18, a 2–1 result. He added another goal on March 22 in a 1–0 away victory over Spokane Velocity FC and later netted the lone goal in a 1–0 win over Charleston Battery in the USL Cup. He finished the regular season with 14 league goals, second in the league, and four assists, earning a place on the 2025 All USL League One first team.
Tampa Bay Rowdies Era (2026–Present)
On December 3, 2025, USL Championship club Tampa Bay Rowdies announced the transfer of Henderlong ahead of the 2026 season. The move returned him to the second tier of American professional soccer and placed him with one of the league’s established brands. Tampa Bay assigned him jersey number 14 and slotted him into a forward group looking for goal-scoring depth.
Driving Style and Strengths
Henderlong is a tall, physical forward whose 6 ft 3 in frame allows him to compete in aerial duels and hold up play against deeper defensive lines. He combines that presence with movement off the ball and a willingness to time runs behind the back line, which translated into a 14-goal regular season at FC Naples. His consistent finishing across league, cup, and Open Cup matches during 2025 pointed to a forward who can contribute in multiple competitions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Henderlong’s first two professional goals came in the same match against Forward Madison and doubled as FC Naples’ first-ever competitive victory. He later added an opening goal in the club’s first U.S. Open Cup win and capped the year with selection to the 2025 All USL League One first team. His transfer to Tampa Bay Rowdies on December 3, 2025, marked his return to the USL Championship.
Karsen Henderlong Career Wins
Karsen Henderlong has built a growing list of team and individual milestones since turning professional in 2024. His most decorated season came in 2025 with FC Naples, when he finished second in USL League One scoring with 14 regular-season goals. That year also brought team-first results, including the club’s first-ever competitive victory and its first U.S. Open Cup win.
FC Naples Highlights
During the 2025 USL League One season, Henderlong scored 14 league goals and added four assists, finishing the regular season as the second-leading scorer in the league. He opened his professional account with two goals in a 2–0 win over Forward Madison on March 15 and added an opening goal in a 2–1 U.S. Open Cup win over Sarasota Paradise on March 18. His strong campaign was recognized with selection to the 2025 All USL League One first team.
Other Wins & Performances
At the collegiate level, Henderlong was a first-team All-Big East selection in 2021 and a second-team honoree in 2020 with Xavier University. He later helped Indiana University reach the NCAA Tournament in 2023, scoring three goals in two weeks in October before netting a key equalizer in a 3–2 overtime win against Wake Forest in the second round.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| USL League One (2025, FC Naples) | 14 | — | — |
Karsen Henderlong Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Karsen Henderlong’s parents and broader family background is limited. He was raised in Crown Point, Indiana, and developed through the Indiana Fire Academy before pursuing a collegiate career at Xavier University and Indiana University. Specific family details beyond his hometown and upbringing are not widely documented.
Personal Life
Henderlong is an American national who was born and raised in Crown Point, Indiana. He has kept his personal life largely private, with no publicly confirmed information regarding a spouse or children. His professional focus since 2024 has centered on building his career across the USL Championship and USL League One.
2025 Season Performance
Karsen Henderlong’s 2025 season with FC Naples stood as his breakout professional year in USL League One. He finished the regular season with 14 league goals and four assists, placing second in the league’s scoring charts. His goals came across league play, the U.S. Open Cup, and the USL Cup, highlighting his ability to contribute in multiple competitions.
Named to the 2025 All USL League One first team, Henderlong’s campaign was also defined by milestone moments for his club. He scored FC Naples’ first-ever competitive goals and helped deliver the expansion side’s first victory and first U.S. Open Cup win. Those contributions framed his December 3, 2025 transfer to Tampa Bay Rowdies as a step back up to the USL Championship on the strength of a complete season.
Heading into 2026, Henderlong joins a Tampa Bay Rowdies side seeking attacking depth as he transitions from a 14-goal League One season to the higher tempo of the USL Championship. His combination of size, finishing, and prior second-tier experience with Indy Eleven should give him a clear runway to compete for minutes. The early outlook centers on whether his 2025 scoring form carries over against stronger Championship defenses.