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Defiance College

Defiance College Athletics
 701 N. Clinton Street Defiance, OH 43512
Division 3 Ohio Midwest
Private Very Small Competitive team
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Josh Hess

The Defiance Athletic Department has named Josh Hess as the next Women's Soccer Head Coach.


Hess arrives to Defiance after spending the 2021 season as the assistant women's soccer coach at Wittenberg University where he helped coach the team to the NCAC playoff championship, 2021 NCAA Regional appearance, and six NCAC All-Conference selections.


"Coach Hess is a great addition to our coaching staff and Women's Soccer program," said Defiance Athletic Director Derek Woodley. "He has had a tremendous amount of success in his coaching career and we look forward to watching him grow our program."


Prior to his time at Wittenberg, Hess was the head women's soccer coach at Mount St. Joseph for eight seasons. He led the Lions to five straight appearances in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament from 2015-2020 while also leading the team to an HCAC Tournament title during the 2018-19 season which was the Lion's first conference championship in 10 years. During his time at MSJ the program he also accumulated two HCAC Tournament finals appearances, one NCAA tournament appearance, posted a program record 17 wins in 2017, and organized and implemented a travel experience to Ireland, Holland, and Germany in Spring 2017.


Hess also coached collegiately at Pearl River Community College during the late 2000's where he helped with the men's and women's soccer programs.


At the club level, he worked for Cincinnati West and coached the G08 CWSC Academy Elite team and served as the club's Technical Director. This past summer he was the assistant coach and goalkeeper coach for FC Dayton in the Women's Premier Soccer League.


Josh holds his USSF A Senior, NSCAA Premier, USSF National Youth License, and CPR/First Aid (American Heart Association). In addition, he is involved in youth soccer coaching education with the USSF.


"Thank you to President Mankey & Athletics Director Coach Woodley for allowing me to work with the women's soccer program," said Hess. "I am looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish."


Coach Hess played collegially at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University and at Fredonia State University. He has a bachelor of art's degree in sports medicine from Mt. Vernon Nazarene University, and a master's degree in accounting from the University of Cincinnati.


Josh lives in Centerville with his partner Sacha and their daughters Samara & Haarlow.

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Eric Haecker

Women’s Soccer head coach Josh Hess has announced the hiring of Eric Haecker as Women’s Soccer Assistant Coach.


Eric Haecker is from Westlake, Ohio, and currently resides in Sylvania, Ohio. Eric went to the University of Toledo and played Club soccer there for 5 years. During that time, he was also president and captain for 3 years.


Eric has been coaching youth soccer for 10 years and has been coaching high school soccer for the past 8 years. He was previously the head coach of Cardinal Stritch High School and previously an assistant at St. Francis De Sales in Toledo, Ohio. He currently coaches at Pacesetter soccer club in Toledo, Ohio. He currently holds USSF C & D coaching licenses.

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