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.
[2] He is married to three-time soccer All-American and 2000 Olympic Games silver medalist, and former New York Power player, Sara Whalen Hess.
[3][4] Hess was part of a trio of noted attackmen who were Princeton classmates along with Jesse Hubbard and Chris Massey.
[18] He served as co-captain of the 1998 team,[19] and he scored two second half goals and had an assist as Princeton pushed its lead to 7–3 during the 1998 Championship game.
[24][25] 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.
[4][3] With the Pride, he won the Major League Lacrosse Iron Lizard of the Year Award during the 2003 MLL season.