The winningest coach in school history, Jim Hesch is in his 10th season at the helm of the Canisius College men's soccer team.
Hesch continues to raise the bar at Canisius as he has graduated the most successful class in the program's history following each of the past three seasons. The Class of 2009 graduated with a school-record 26 wins, capped by an eight-win total and five conference victories in 2007, the most in the program's Division I history.
The third-longest tenured head coach in the MAAC, Hesch became the program's winningest coach when the Golden Griffins defeated Marist by a score of 3-2 at home Oct. 12, 2007. The 2007 season also saw Canisius win the second MAAC Tournament game in school history as the Blue and Gold advanced to the conference tournament's semifinal round for the second time in school history.
Individual accolades have become common under Hesch during the past nine seasons. He has mentored five players to be named to the All-MAAC Team a total of nine times, including Alan McGreal, the first four-time selection in the program's history. Under Hesch's leadership, McGreal, who was a member of the successful 2009 class, graduated from Canisius with school records in career points, goals and assists.
McGreal also earned the conference's Rookie of the Year award in 2006 and was a two-time all-region selection. In addition, Fabien Lewis was named the league's Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2003, while Anthony Palmiero and Brian Brehm were honored as the MAAC Men's Soccer Scholar Athletes of the Year in 2003 and 2004, respectively.
The Syracuse, N.Y., native played in the National Professional Indoor Soccer League from 1995-2002, which included a stint with the Buffalo Blizzard from 1999-2000. In 2000, Hesch played in 38 games and tallied 21 goals and 14 assists. He played with the Harrisburg Heat from 1996-99 and was named an NPSL All-Star in the 1997-98 season after posting 119 points, the eighth-best single-season total in Heat history. In 2002, Hesch captured a Major Indoor Soccer League Championship as a member of the Philadelphia Kixx, tallying 36 points in 28 games.
As a collegiate player, Hesch won a national championship with Southern Connecticut University in 1990 before transferring to Cortland State, where he played from 1991-93 and was named a first-team All-American. He earned his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1994.
He owns a USSF A coaching license and is the president of the newly-formed Black Watch - New York West Premiere Soccer Club.
Hesch and his wife, Linda, reside in Amherst with their daughter, Ryan, and son, Connor. Jim's brother, Dave Hesch, is the associate head coach at cross-town rival the University at Buffalo.
