Ryan Hess enters his 13th season on the Lehigh men’s soccer coaching staff and seventh season as Associate Head Coach in 2023.. 

In 2022, Hess mentored first team All-Patriot League honoree Jack Sarkos. Sarkos was also named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region second team. 

Hess helped guide the 2019 Mountain Hawks to their third Patriot League Championship in program history and the team's fifth NCAA Tournament appearance. In addition, Hess assisted Lehigh to just its second-ever regular season crown and No. 1 overall seed in the tournament. The Mountain Hawks closed out the 2019 campaign with a 13-5-3 overall record, an unbeaten 6-0-3 record in the Patriot League and an undefeated home record of 7-0-3 at the Ulrich Sports Complex.

With Hess' guidance, Lehigh won its second-ever Patriot League Championship and fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015. Hess has mentored two All-American selections, 13 All-Region honorees, three Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award winners, a Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year honoree, 32 All-Patriot League selections and six Academic All-Patriot League members in his tenure on Lehigh’s staff.

Prior to the start of the 2011 season, Hess came to Lehigh from nearby Moravian College where he enjoyed a standout playing and coaching career, with a coaching stint at Muhlenberg sandwiched in between. He is also a captain for local FC Sonic, a team which features a number of Mountain Hawks’ players.

During his playing career, Hess was a four-year starter, three-time captain and two-time team MVP at Moravian under current Lehigh women’s soccer coach Eric Lambinus. Hess’ success was highlighted by his senior season when he was named Second Team All-Landmark Conference.

Hess’ playing experience includes time with a pair of local amateur teams the past four seasons: Pennsylvania Stoners and FC Sonic. He won a national championship with the Stoners while playing with various Lehigh players for the Sonic, including Ali Famili and recent graduates Jordie Ciuffetelli, Daniel Odenwelder and Joe Puleo.

Also owning extensive coaching experience, Hess served as assistant coach at Muhlenberg College in the fall of 2009 before heading back to Moravian in 2010 to join its staff. He also owns experience coaching in Lehigh’s summer camp and with club FC Lehigh.

Hess graduated from Moravian in 2008 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology.

"Lehigh is a first-class organization," said Hess. "Not just from the product on the field, but also from the coaching staff down to the entire athletic department, the facilities and the equipment. You can tell just from the fact that they take it so seriously from all those levels. I’m thrilled to be part of the organization."