In 2025, Nicole Hess will serve in her 16th season as the CSB volleyball head coach. She also serves as Senior Woman Administrator at the College of Saint Benedict.
In 15 seasons, Hess – who was inducted into the St. Olaf Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015 – has coached 14 All-Americans (1st team, 2nd team, honorable mention), 76 All-Central Region players, 38 All-MIAC athletes and 60 athletes who earned Academic All-MIAC honors. Eighteen CSB student-athletes have been named to the MIAC All-Playoff Team, including a high of three in 2024. Twelve student-athletes have earned Academic All-District honors. In 2019, Hunter Weiss was named the AVCA Central Region Player of the Year and the NCAA Elite 89 Award winner.
At Saint Benedict, Hess has a career mark of 272-141 (.659) overall with a 110-44 (.714) in MIAC play. In her 22 seasons overall as a head coach, Hess is 336-273 (.551) overall and 125-106 (.541) in conference play. She recorded her 300th win with a 3-0 win over Macalester on Oct. 7, 2022.
Hess led CSB to a national tournament berth each year from 2011-15, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2012. The veteran head coach made it back to the NCAA Tournament each year from 2017-19 with a 26-8 record and another Sweet 16 trip in 2018 and a 26-6 record and an Elite 8 appearance in 2019.
Directed by Hess, CSB volleyball again reached the NCAA DIII National Tournament in a 15-12 season, including 8-3 in the MIAC. CSB won the MIAC Tournament title for the second time (2017, 2024). CSB's national tournament appearance in 2024 was the ninth with Hess as head coach.
During her tenure with the Bennies, Hess has won 17 or more games in 10 of her 15 seasons, including four seasons with 21 wins or more.
After a 12-13 finish in 2016, CSB was 19-9 in 2017 with a MIAC Tournament title before reaching the 20-win milestone for the fourth time in her career in 2018. CSB finished 18-10 overall and third in the MIAC in 2015, and in 2014 Hess helped CSB finished 21-10 overall while picking up the 100th win of her CSB coaching career. A year ago (2023), CSB was 17-10 overall and 9-2 to earn second place in the MIAC.
Hess came to CSB in 2009 from St. Catherine where she was the head coach from 2003-09. She inherited a rebuilding Wildcat program and made great progress in her seven seasons there. During her last two seasons, the Wildcats won more than 10 games for the first time since 1996. She won MIAC Coach of the Year honors in 2009.
As a collegiate player, Hess achieved success as a four-time All-MIAC honoree at St. Olaf College. She was a three-time member of the All-Region team and in 2001 was selected to the AVCA All-America second team. Hess holds school records in career kills (2,041), career hitting percentage (.352), and hitting percentage in a season (.392). She is in the top 10 in St. Olaf history for single-season hitting percentage in each of her four seasons, and her 573 kills as a sophomore is second in school history. She also still holds the MIAC record for kills in a career.
She is married to Paul Hess, who is employed by QualiChem Inc., based in Salem, Virginia. They have been married for 20 years and have three children - two sons and one daughter.
Additional Coaching Experience
2003-2009: Head coach at St. Catherine University, St. Paul, Minn.
2002: Assistant coach at University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn.
College Education
2002: Bachelor's degree in social studies education from St. Olaf, Northfield, Minn.
Athletic Career
Hess played four seasons with St. Olaf, earning All-MIAC honors all four years. She was named All-Region three times, and was selected to the AVCA All-America team as a senior.
| Year |
Overall |
MIAC |
NCAA |
Notes |
| St. Kate's |
|
|
|
|
| 2003 |
3-22 (.120) |
0-11 (12th) |
|
|
| 2004 |
3-25 (.107) |
1-10 (10th) |
|
|
| 2005 |
3-24 (.111) |
0-11 |
|
|
| 2006 |
8-19 (.296) |
2-9 |
|
|
| 2007 |
10-17 (.370) |
1-10 (11th) |
|
|
| 2008 |
19-13 (.594) |
5-6 (10th) |
|
|
| 2009 |
18-12 (.600) |
6-5 (6th) |
|
MIAC Volleyball Co-Coach of the Year |
| CSB |
|
|
|
|
| 2010 |
18-12 (.600) |
6-5 (5th) |
|
MIAC Semifinals |
| 2011 |
18-13 (.581) |
8-3 (4th) |
0-1 |
MIAC Semifinals |
| 2012 |
29-6 (.829) |
10-1 (2nd) |
2-1 |
MIAC Runner-Up |
| 2013 |
27-4 (.871) |
9-2 (3rd) |
1-1 |
MIAC Runner-Up |
| 2014 |
21-10 (.677) |
9-2 (3rd) |
0-1 |
MIAC Semifinals |
| 2015 |
18-10 (.642) |
8-3 (3rd) |
0-1 |
MIAC Semifinals |
| 2016 |
12-13 (.480) |
5-6 (6th) |
|
|
| 2017 |
19-9 (.678) |
9-2 (2nd) |
0-1 |
MIAC Tourney Champion |
| 2018 |
26-8 (.764) |
10-1 (2nd) |
2-1 |
MIAC Runner-Up |
| 2019 |
26-6 (.812) |
8-3 (2nd) |
3-1 |
MIAC Semifinals |
| *2020-21 |
4-2 (.666) |
|
|
|
| 2021 |
7-14 (.333) |
5-6 (6th) |
|
MIAC Quarterfinals |
| 2022 |
15-12 (.555) |
6-5 (T-5th) |
|
MIAC Semifinals |
| 2023 |
17-10 (.630) |
9-2 (2nd) |
|
MIAC Semifinals |
| 2024 |
15-12 (.556) |
8-3 (4th) |
0-1 |
MIAC Tourney Champion |
CSB Totals
Overall Totals |
272-141(.659)
336-273(.551) |
110-44 (.714)
125-106 (.541) |
8-9 (.471) |
|
*The 2020 season was shortened and played in Spring 2021 due to the COVID19 pandemic. No MIAC or NCAA Championships were held.
Hess' Milestones
1st Victory - Sept. 6, 2003 UW-Stevens Point
25th Victory - Sept. 27, 2007 Martin Luther
50th Victory - Sept. 12, 2009 Hamline University
75th Victory - Oct. 1, 2010 Wartburg College
100th Victory - Nov. 1, 2011 Gustavus Adolphus College
125th Victory - Oct. 24, 2012 Bethel University
150th Victory - Oct. 19, 2013 Gustavus Adolphus College
200th Victory - Sept. 17, 2016 Buena Vista University
250th Victory - Nov. 1, 2018 St. Thomas (MIAC Semifinals)
300th Victory - Oct. 7, 2022 Macalester College
Nine NCAA Postseason Appearances
Two MIAC Tournament Titles (2017, 2024)
Eight top-3 MIAC team finishes
