Bowling Green State University Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Senior Associate AD for Student-Athlete Experience/Deputy Title IX Coordinator (he/him/his)/(XC/Track/Swimming/Gymnastics)
- Email:
- Phone:
- 419-372-0435
Dr. Chet Hesson, Ed.D. began at BGSU in 2014. Hesson is the Sport Administrator for the Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field, Women's Gymnastics, and Women's Swimming & Diving Programs. He also oversees the athletic department's units of Student Athlete Services, Mentorship & Life Design, Sports Performance/Strength & Conditioning, Sports Medicine/Athletic Training, Mental Health, and Sports Nutrition, while also serving as a Deputy Title IX Coordinator for the University. Hesson also Chairs the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame, and is the campus advisor for We Are One Team (WA1T), an organization dedicated to using the power of sport to promote social justice.
Hesson is responsible for all Student-Athlete Services and Student-Athlete Development (Academic, Leadership, Mentorship & Life Design, Personal, Professional, and Community). In addition, Hesson manages the department's responsibility in the certification of academic eligibility process, and APR/GSR reporting. Additionally, Hesson has prior experience overseeing the Men’s Soccer program and the athletics Compliance office.
Other duties include coordinating and being the athletics liaison to the following offices: Kuhlin Hub for Career Design and Connections, Radbill Center for College and Life Design, Dean of Students, Financial Aid, Bursar, Registrar, International Programs, Admissions (undergraduate and graduate colleges), Office of Multicultural Affairs, Counseling and Psychological Services.
Among other responsibilities, Hesson assists in the recruiting process for all 18 sport programs and is the budget administrator for multiple functional areas and administers the summer grant and post-eligibility grant programs. In 2021 and 2023, Hesson participated in the NACDA Senior Administrator Mentor Institute.
With a passion for student-athlete well-being, mental wellness, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Hesson has served as the Chair of the N4A - Student-Athlete Well-being Committee, is a member of the national organization for Diversity, Inclusion & Equity Council of Excellence (DIECE), serving on the sub-committee for external relations. In addition, he co-chairs of the BGSU Athletics DEI Task Force, and is on the MAC Student-Athlete Well-being and the D&I Committees.
In 2020, Hesson was named the recipient of the MAC Diversity and Inclusion Administrator Award. Hesson is the co-creator and lead facilitator of the WA1T Team Player Program for Diversity and Inclusion Leadership. This certificate program was designed specifically for student-athletes to gain valuable skills to become inclusive leaders in their respective teams, the BGSU and Bowling Green community, as well as their future careers. The program represents a partnership between BGSU’s award-winning WA1T initiative, the Marvin Center for Leadership, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and it has received accolades from both the NCAA, the Mid-American Conference, and BGSU.
In addition to WA1T Team Player Program, Hesson also created and facilitates the Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Leadership Academy for coaches and staff. The EQ Leadership Academy is focused on increasing emotional intelligence and leadership competency.
Prior to his arrival in Bowling Green, Hesson spent two years as the Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance at Stetson University in Deland, Fla. where he was responsible for the administration of a comprehensive NCAA Division I, Atlantic Sun Conference, and Pioneer League rules compliance program.
At Stetson, his primary duties included investigation and reporting of rules infractions, administration of a comprehensive education program, preparation of waivers and releases, transfer evaluations, monitoring of playing and practicing seasons, recruiting, APR/APP reporting, an NCAA APP audit, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Advisor and more.
Hesson was the recipient of the 2014 Stetson University Staff Member of the Year Award.
Hesson went to Stetson after a stint as Assistant Director of Compliance in the University of Hawaii's athletic department. While there, he helped develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive, in-depth, and effective athletic compliance program for Hawaii.
Spending time as a graduate assistant for compliance/special projects at Eastern Michigan University, Hesson earned his Master of Science degree in sports management in 2011 and graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Hesson also completed his Doctor of Education, Ed.D., in Leadership Studies from BGSU in August 2018. His dissertation topic focused on Student-Athlete Experience as a Predictor of Mental Well-being.
Prior to getting into athletic administration, Hesson taught high school courses in AP World History and Advanced Sociology in Romulus, Mich. while also coaching varsity basketball, junior varsity football and middle school football at Monroe High School.
Hesson received a bachelor's degree from Siena Heights University in 2009, where he played on the basketball team and ran sprints, jumped, and threw for the track and field team. Hesson’s 400-meter relay team qualified for nationals as a junior. He was a four-time scholar-athlete recipient in men’s basketball, track and field, respectively, and graduated Magna Cum Laude.
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