Jon Hess (lacrosse)
Encyclopedia
Jonathan A. "Jon" Hess is a retired lacrosse
attackman who played professional box lacrosse
in the National Lacrosse League
(NLL) and professional field lacrosse
in Major League Lacrosse
(MLL). He starred as a member of the Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse
team from 1995 through 1998, where he earned National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) lacrosse attackman of the year award, three United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
(USILA) All-American recognitions, four Ivy League
championships, three national championships, an Ivy League Player of the Year award and an NCAA tournament most outstanding player award. Jon Hess holds Princeton lacrosse scoring records for both points and assists and won an NCAA individual national statistical championship for assists. As a professional, he is a former sportsman of the year and MLL assists leader. Jon is married to Sara Whalen
Hess.
, where he earned All-county recognition three times, but was unable to lead them past perennial league champion Yorktown High School
. Hess was an Empire State Games
gold medalist in 1992 and bronze medalist in 1993.
and Chris Massey
. As starters, the trio of All-Americans, who retired second (Hess), third (Hubbard) and fourth (Massey) in career points at Princeton, had a 43–2 record and combined for 618 points. Jon Hess was awarded the 1997 Jack Turnbull Award
as the best NCAA lacrosse
attackman. He was a first team USILA All-American Team
selection in 1997 and 1998 and second team selection in 1996. He was also first team All-Ivy League in 1996 and 1997 and a second team selection in 1998. The 1995 team, which earned the school's sixth consecutive NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
invitation, was Ivy League co-champion, while the 1996–1998 teams were 6–0 undefeated outright conference champions. These undefeated league champions won the 1996
, 1997
and 1998 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
s, becoming the first team to win three consecutive championships since Syracuse
from 1988–90 and the first to be recognized to have done so without an NCAA scandal since Johns Hopkins from 1978–80.
Hess earned the 1997 Men's Ivy League Player of the Year and the 1997 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament Most Outstanding Player. His most outstanding player performance included five goals and eleven assists in the tournament and three goals and five assists in the championship game against Maryland. The 1997 team is regarded as the best in school history with a record number of wins during its 15–0 season. He served as co-captain
of the 1998 team, and he scored two second half goals and had an assist as Princeton pushed its lead to 7–3 during the 1998 Championship game. For the day, he ended up with four goals as part of the 15–5 victory over Maryland.
Hess holds the Princeton University single-season points (74, 1997) and single-season assists records (48, 1997). He was the 1998 NCAA statistical champion in assists per game (2.60), even though he was slowed down that season by a hamstring
injury.
during the 1999
and 2000 NLL season
s. Hess also played three seasons in MLL with the New Jersey Pride
from 2001
to 2003
before retiring to work for Merrill Lynch
in New York City. Hess works as a NASDAQ
stock trader
. With the Pride, he won the Major League Lacrosse Iron Lizard of the Year Award
during the 2003 MLL season
. That year, he was reunited with Princeton teammate Hubbard. In each of his three seasons in the MLL, he finished first (2001) or second (2002 & 2003) in the league in assists.
player Sara Whalen
. By 2004, he was married to three-time soccer All-American and 2000 Olympic Games silver medalist Sara Whalen Hess.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
attackman who played professional box lacrosse
Box lacrosse
Box lacrosse, also known as indoor lacrosse and sometimes shortened to boxla, LAX or simply box, is an indoor version of lacrosse played mostly in North America. The game originated in Canada, where it is the most popular version of the game played in contrast to the traditional field lacrosse game...
in the National Lacrosse League
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...
(NLL) and professional field lacrosse
Field lacrosse
Field lacrosse, sometimes referred to as the "fastest sport on two feet," is a full contact outdoor men's sport played with ten players on each team. The sport originated among Native Americans, and the modern rules of field lacrosse were initially codified by Canadian William George Beers in 1867....
in Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse, or MLL, is a professional men's field lacrosse league that is made up of five teams in the United States and one team in Canada.- History :...
(MLL). He starred as a member of the Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse
Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse
The Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse team represents Princeton University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
team from 1995 through 1998, where he earned National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) lacrosse attackman of the year award, three United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association is an association of institutions with varsity college lacrosse programs in all three NCAA divisions, founded in 1885.-Awards:...
(USILA) All-American recognitions, four Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
championships, three national championships, an Ivy League Player of the Year award and an NCAA tournament most outstanding player award. Jon Hess holds Princeton lacrosse scoring records for both points and assists and won an NCAA individual national statistical championship for assists. As a professional, he is a former sportsman of the year and MLL assists leader. Jon is married to Sara Whalen
Sara Whalen
Sara Whalen Hess was born on April 28, 1976, in Natick, Massachusetts. Whalen played for the United States Women's National Soccer Team from 1997 to 2000, and was a founding player of WUSA.-Soccer career:...
Hess.
Background
Jon Hess, who is from , established the Rockland County scoring record (314 points). He attended Nyack High SchoolNyack High School
Nyack High School is a secondary school serving parts of the Town of Orangetown and Town of Clarkstown, New York, United States. The old Nyack High School is now part of BOCES and the New Nyack High School is located just down the road at the corner of Christian Herald Road and Highland Avenue...
, where he earned All-county recognition three times, but was unable to lead them past perennial league champion Yorktown High School
Yorktown High School (New York)
Yorktown High School is a public high school in Yorktown Heights, New York that serves students in grades 9-12. The school offers academic electives, sports, and student news and literary publications...
. Hess was an Empire State Games
Empire State Games
The Empire State Games are a set of annual Olympic-style competitions for amateur athletes from the state of New York, encompassing several divisions and allowing athletes of all ages to compete. It was a member of the National Congress of State Games...
gold medalist in 1992 and bronze medalist in 1993.
College career
Hess was part of a trio of noted attackmen who were Princeton classmates along with Jesse HubbardJesse Hubbard
Jesse Hubbard is a former professional lacrosse player who played professional box lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League and professional field lacrosse in the Major League Lacrosse...
and Chris Massey
Chris Massey (lacrosse)
Christopher G. "Chris" Massey is a retired lacrosse attackman who played professional field lacrosse in the Major League Lacrosse . He starred as a member of the Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse team from 1995 through 1998, where he earned three United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association ...
. As starters, the trio of All-Americans, who retired second (Hess), third (Hubbard) and fourth (Massey) in career points at Princeton, had a 43–2 record and combined for 618 points. Jon Hess was awarded the 1997 Jack Turnbull Award
Jack Turnbull Award
The "Lt. Col. J. I. Turnbull Award" — also known as the Jack Turnbull Award — is an award given to the United States' top collegiate attackman in lacrosse, named after National Lacrosse Hall of Fame alumnus Jack Turnbull. The award is given to a player in Division I, Division II, and Division...
as the best NCAA lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
attackman. He was a first team USILA All-American Team
USILA All-American Team
The USILA All-American Team is an honor given annually to the best American men's college lacrosse players at their respective positions by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. The term All-American is derived from the same practice in American college football, in which the...
selection in 1997 and 1998 and second team selection in 1996. He was also first team All-Ivy League in 1996 and 1997 and a second team selection in 1998. The 1995 team, which earned the school's sixth consecutive NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
The annual NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament determines the top men's field lacrosse team in the NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III....
invitation, was Ivy League co-champion, while the 1996–1998 teams were 6–0 undefeated outright conference champions. These undefeated league champions won the 1996
1996 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1996 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 26th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
, 1997
1997 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1997 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 27th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
and 1998 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
1998 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1998 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 28th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
s, becoming the first team to win three consecutive championships since Syracuse
Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse
The Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse team represents Syracuse University in NCAA Division I men's college lacrosse. The Orange have won 10 NCAA championship titles, and currently competes as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's lacrosse conference...
from 1988–90 and the first to be recognized to have done so without an NCAA scandal since Johns Hopkins from 1978–80.
Hess earned the 1997 Men's Ivy League Player of the Year and the 1997 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament Most Outstanding Player. His most outstanding player performance included five goals and eleven assists in the tournament and three goals and five assists in the championship game against Maryland. The 1997 team is regarded as the best in school history with a record number of wins during its 15–0 season. He served as co-captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
of the 1998 team, and he scored two second half goals and had an assist as Princeton pushed its lead to 7–3 during the 1998 Championship game. For the day, he ended up with four goals as part of the 15–5 victory over Maryland.
Hess holds the Princeton University single-season points (74, 1997) and single-season assists records (48, 1997). He was the 1998 NCAA statistical champion in assists per game (2.60), even though he was slowed down that season by a hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
injury.
Professional career
Jon Hess played for the New York SaintsNew York Saints
The New York Saints are a former member of the National Lacrosse League. They played at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York from 1989 to 2003. They became an inactive team after the 2002-03 season and were officially defunct in 2006....
during the 1999
1999 NLL season
-Awards:-Weekly Awards:Each week, a player is awarded "Player of the Week" honours.-Monthly Awards:Awards are also given out monthly for the best overall player and best rookie.-Statistics Leaders:...
and 2000 NLL season
2000 NLL season
-Awards:-Weekly Awards:Each week, a player is awarded "Player of the Week" honours.-Monthly Awards:Awards are also given out monthly for the best overall player and best rookie.-Statistics Leaders:...
s. Hess also played three seasons in MLL with the New Jersey Pride
New Jersey Pride
The New Jersey Pride were a men's field lacrosse team formerly based in Piscataway, New Jersey, United States. They played in Major League Lacrosse from 2001-2008.-Franchise history:...
from 2001
2001 MLL season
The 2001 Major League Lacrosse season was the 1st season of the league. The season began on June 7 and concluded with the championship game on September 3, 2001.-General information:...
to 2003
2003 MLL season
2003 Major League Lacrosse season was the 3rd season of the league. The season began on May 31 and concluded with the championship game on August 24, 2003.-General information:Schedule was reduced from 14 to 12 games....
before retiring to work for Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch is the wealth management division of Bank of America. With over 15,000 financial advisors and $2.2 trillion in client assets it is the world's largest brokerage. Formerly known as Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., prior to 2009 the firm was publicly owned and traded on the New York...
in New York City. Hess works as a NASDAQ
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
stock trader
Stock trader
A stock trader or a stock investor is an individual or firm who buys and sells stocks in the financial markets. Many stock traders will trade bonds as well...
. With the Pride, he won the Major League Lacrosse Iron Lizard of the Year Award
Major League Lacrosse Iron Lizard of the Year Award
Major League Lacrosse's SoBe Iron Lizard Award was given to the player who most embodied the traits of toughness, tenacity and determination regardless of pain or injury during season. The award was discontinued after the 2003 season....
during the 2003 MLL season
2003 MLL season
2003 Major League Lacrosse season was the 3rd season of the league. The season began on May 31 and concluded with the championship game on August 24, 2003.-General information:Schedule was reduced from 14 to 12 games....
. That year, he was reunited with Princeton teammate Hubbard. In each of his three seasons in the MLL, he finished first (2001) or second (2002 & 2003) in the league in assists.
Personal
In 2001, he was dating New York PowerNew York Power
The New York Power was a professional soccer team that played in the Women's United Soccer Association. The team played at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, New York. The team began play in 2001...
player Sara Whalen
Sara Whalen
Sara Whalen Hess was born on April 28, 1976, in Natick, Massachusetts. Whalen played for the United States Women's National Soccer Team from 1997 to 2000, and was a founding player of WUSA.-Soccer career:...
. By 2004, he was married to three-time soccer All-American and 2000 Olympic Games silver medalist Sara Whalen Hess.
External links
- Hess at the National Lacrosse LeagueNational Lacrosse LeagueThe National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...
- Hess archive at Baltimore Sun