Bio

Ericka Hess joined the Chargers coaching staff in November of 2022 as the program's lead assistant under head coach Kyle Gross, bringing a wealth of experience in softball to the role to help Hillsdale continue a strong recent run in the sport.

In her first season with the Chargers in 2023, Hess was part of an impressive campaign, as the team finished with 35 wins, its most since 1991, won the G-MAC Tournament for the third time in six years, and made its fourth NCAA DII Tournament appearance in six years as well.

“To get to coach at a place like Hillsdale was a big part of why I pursued this job, and the more I learned about this place, the more it felt like a great fit and a place I really wanted to call home,” Hess said. “The chance to work with Coach Kyle (Gross) is another thing I’m really excited about; I think the culture he’s built here and the things he’s accomplished in a short time are outstanding.

“I’m excited to get to work here, I think there’s a lot I can learn as I look to continue to grow as a coach, and some things I can contribute as well to help add to the success of this program, on and off the field.”

A four-year utility player at NCAA Division III Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania from 2016 to 2019, Hess started 99 games for the Golden Tornadoes at second base and in the outfield, hitting .313 as a junior and senior with 13 RBIs and posting a perfect fielding percentage as a senior.

During the 2019 season, as a senior, Hess helped Geneva reach the four-team PAC Tournament for the first time since 2014, posting a 9-7 record in conference play.

Since graduating from Geneva College with a Bachelor's of Science in both Psychology and Human Services that spring, Hess stayed active in softball in a variety of ways.  

She served as the head varsity coach at Iroquois High School in her hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania, helping hold the Braves together through the Covid-19 pandemic, and leading Iroquois to a seven-win improvement over the previous spring in 2022.

Hess also worked as a softball trainer at the Erie Elite Athletic Academy since 2019, gaining experience in skill development and individual instruction, and served as a scout for the Dominican Republic national women’s softball team since 2020.

Her experience as a player, scout, coach and instructor give her a wide base of skills and knowledge to draw on in her first coaching job at the collegiate level.

“For someone so young to have so much experience with the game of softball, and from so many different angles, Erika really stands out,” Gross said. “During the interview process, I was really struck by her passion for the game and her desire to grow as a coach and to keep learning and improving her craft every day.

“I think she’s going to be a great fit for Hillsdale, and she’s well-positioned to help us take our program to new heights.”