Tod Hess, The Stat Man
At Goose Pond Colony Golf Course, Tod Hess is simply known as stat man.
Hess, Assistant Athletic Director and SID (Sports Information Director) at Oakland Community College in Oakland, Mich., is serving as official scorer for the 2006 NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association Mens Division II National Championship.)
What Hess says goes. What Hess posts stays.
Hess is used to sports statistics. Hes done it for years, including the last 11 as SID at Oakland, a large community college located outside of Detroit. Best of all, Hess is good at what he does.
Tod has been a welcome addition to our tournament committee, said Goose Pond Colony manager and director of golf Barry Chandler. Hes made our scoring and stats a lot easier to compute and get online.
"We can get the info out quickly to the schools and media outlets around the country," he said.
Hess wanted to have a career in athletics since his college days at Saginaw Valley State College. He has put his degree in communications and passion for sports to work since earning it in 1992.
But the Hess story is more than sports. Its more than stats. Simply put, Hess is a do-everything type of guy. He sees a need and willingly goes to work.
Hess received a kidney transplant on Aug. 10, 1995. He suffered from FGS, a disease that compromises kidney function. Its the same ailment NBA stars Alonzo Mourning and Shawn Elliott suffered from before they underwent transplants.
"I never had to go on dialysis," Hess said, "but my kidney function steadily declined after my symptoms first appeared in the spring of 1991."
Even during the recovery period Hess followed his passion, keeping up with sports and charting statistics for local high schools and sports teams in Indian Township.
After spending 12 days in the hospital, he slowly worked his way back to full-time work, starting at Oakland in early November.
Hess, who recently turned 41, is a go-getter. His attitude about life is upbeat, savoring each day like the special gift. Except for the medications and precautions he has to take there is no hint of any problem, past or present.
The amount of work he saves people at the tournament is tremendous. The impressive thing is that he does this, like many other things he does, as a volunteer, said Dale Vos, NJCAA Division II Golf Chair. None of his work surprises me because he does this same type of thing in Michigan. Hes always willing to help, to try a new idea, to step forward and say I can help.
Hess got to Scottsboro by accident. His college team, coached by Steve Booth, visited Goose Pond for the 2005 Spring Fling Tournament in March and saw a need for a computerized scoring program.
Chandler and Spring Fling tournament director Ron Marshall of Illinois Central jumped at the chance to have Hess put his expertise to work at the 2005 national tournament.
The rest, as Hess says, is history.
Hess worked the 2005 tourney. He returned in March for the 2006 Spring Fling and has committed to attend the 2007 nationals at Goose Pond.
"I love this place," Hess said of Scottsboro. "You guys are the greatest. You know how to roll out the red carpet for people."
If his schedule permits Hess said he would make the long drive to attend the 2007 Spring Fling too. I enjoy it too.
And somewhere along the way, if not this week, Hess, a self-proclaimed model railroad enthusiast, plans on visiting depots in both Stevenson and Bridgeport.
"I'm fascinated by trains. Ive heard good things and want to see them," he said of Jackson Countys two most acclaimed depots.
And if Hess didnt have roots so deep in Michigan, folks in Scottsboro might just have a new neighbor.