William R. Hess (February 5, 1923 – June 10, 1978) was an American college football coach.

In his tenure as head coach for the Ohio Bobcats football team, Hess compiled a 108–91–4 record.

He ranked second on Ohio's all-time victories list behind Hall of Famer Don Peden at the time of his retirement,[1] though he has since been passed by Frank Solich.

He coached high school football in Portsmouth and Grandview Heights, Ohio before joining Woody Hayes's staff at Ohio State University in 1951.

[3] This biographical article relating to a college football coach first appointed in the 1950s is a stub.