College of Saint Benedict Athletics

Nicole Hess is in her 17th season as the head coach of the CSB volleyball team in the 2026-27 academic year. She also serves as the department’s senior woman administrator. A 2002 graduate of St. Olaf and four-year starter on the Ole volleyball team, Hess was inducted into the St. Olaf Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015. 

During her tenure, Hess has directed the Bennies to an overall record of 293-148 (.664), winning three MIAC Playoff Championships and making 10 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the "Elite 8" in 2019. She has coached 19 players who have earned 38 All-MIAC awards, 12 athletes who have garnered 21 All-Region distinctions and eight players who have collected 15 All-America awards. Three of her athletes have been named Academic All-Americans, including 2020-21 Academic All-American of the Year Hunter Weiss ’21.

The 2025 CSB volleyball team (21-7, 9-2 MIAC) won its second-consecutive MIAC playoff title as the third seed in the tournament. The Bennies advanced to the NCAA Tournament where they fell to No. 21 Wash U (Mo.). Individually, junior outside Kali Jones was named to the AVCA All-America honorable mention and All-Region first team.

Hess came to CSB after seven seasons at St. Catherine (2003-09) where she was named the 2009 MIAC Coach of the Year. She owns a combined collegiate coaching record of 350-284 (.552). She started her coaching career as an assistant for St. Thomas in 2002. 

Hess, a native of Morristown, Minn., had a standout career as a middle blocker at St. Olaf. A four-time All-MIAC and three-time All-Region selection, she captained the Oles to a pair of MIAC Championships (one regular-season, one playoff) and was named an All-American in 2001. She still holds the program records for career kills (2,041), attack percentage (0.349), block assists (285), points (2,452.5) and points per set (5.15). Her 2,041 kills are also a MIAC record.

Hess and her husband Paul have three children: Taylor, a junior pitcher for Division I Indiana softball; Joe, a sophomore on the Saint John’s baseball team; and Andrew.