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Jim Hesch
Head Men's and Women's Golf Coach
Phone: 716-926-8844
Email: jhesch@hilbert.edu
Alma Mater: SUNY Cortland
1st season at Hilbert
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Jim Hesch became the ninth head coach of the Hawks' golf program when he was joined the Hilbert College Athletics Department in August of 2025.
Hesch brings over 20 years of collegiate coaching experience to Hilbert, along with valuable organizational expertise from his role with the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. He will continue to serve as the superintendent of operations for the Conservancy's three golf courses while leading both the men's and women's golf programs at Hilbert.
A Central New York native, Hesch is well-acquainted with the demands of collegiate athletics, having served as head coach for men's and women's soccer programs at the NCAA Division I, II, III, and junior college levels. He began his coaching career at Canisius University in 2001 before a brief tenure at the University at Buffalo in 2011 led to a professional coaching opportunity with the Rochester Lancers of the MISL.
Hesch later returned to Buffalo, serving as an assistant men's coach before becoming the head women's soccer coach at D'Youville College. There, he successfully guided the Spartans through their transition from NCAA Division III to Division II. Most recently, Hesch led both the men's and women's soccer programs at SUNY Erie for two seasons.
Named the 2018 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Women's Soccer Coach of the Year, Hesch holds a degree in physical education from SUNY Cortland, earned in 1994. As a student-athlete, he was recognized as a First Team All-American during his senior season with the Red Dragons after earning a national championship with Southern Connecticut University in 1990.
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Brian Cavanaugh
Volunteer Assistant Men's and Women's Golf Coach
Alma Mater: Brockport State
1st season
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Jim Hesch added Brian Cavanaugh to his men’s and women’s golf staff starting with the fall 2025 season.
Cavanaugh brings extensive coaching and administrative experience at the collegiate level, spanning back to the late 1970s. A native of South Buffalo, he served as Athletic Director at D’Youville University from 2006 to 2019 before transitioning to the role of Executive Director for Athletic Advancement.
Before his administrative career, Cavanaugh was the head hockey coach at Canisius College (now Canisius University) for 24 seasons. He was the program’s first varsity head coach and remains its winningest coach with a record of 341-306-57. Under his leadership, the Golden Griffins achieved 15 winning seasons and successfully transitioned from a Division III to a Division I scholarship program starting with the 1998-99 season.
A graduate of Brockport State, Cavanaugh was a standout hockey player. At his 2021 induction into the Brockport Athletics Hall of Fame, he was tied for fourth all-time with 124 career points (45 goals, 79 assists), with his 79 assists ranking third in program history.
updated sept 9, 20205
