He delivered the province's first national banner in 20 years when Otago won the one-day tournament in 2007-08.
The following season, his side played some quite sparkling cricket to win the twenty/20 trophy and earn the right to contest the lucrative Champions League in India.
Both wonderful achievements, but perhaps the 36-year-old's greatest was helping bring some pride back.
Otago was seen as a bit of a lost cause - a rag-tag bunch of castoffs from the far-flung corners of the country. Hesson, who has stepped down from the role after six years in the job, helped turn that around and it is a source of enormous pride.
"When I joined the Volts we were sort of called the misfit XI," Hesson said.
"We had a lot of guys from different places, guys that had not done so well in different areas and also the guys were probably quite immature in the way they went about things.
"At the end of six years a number of those players are now married or in relationships and have families.
"That is probably what I'm most proud off, regardless of how small I played a part in their development, and that has been the most satisfying."
The likes of Neil Broom, Aaron Redmond and Nathan McCullum have flourished under Hesson's watch, going on to represent New Zealand.
Others, such as Neil Wagner and Derek de Boorder, have also benefited greatly. But no-one outside of the region had much of a clue who Hesson was when he took over the coaching reins from Glenn Turner in 2005-06.
It was not long before the well-organised and thoughtful character made his mark on the domestic scene. In his first season at the helm he led Otago to a one-day semifinal.
That might not seem like a hugely impressive feat - reaching the last three of a six-team competition - but Otago had endured a long lean period.
The Volts lost the fixture but belief in the camp began to swell.
Otago reached the final of both the one-day and twenty/20 campaigns the following season only to lose both games to Auckland. Fate wanted the province to wait one more year.
Revenge was sweet. Otago beat Auckland by seven wickets in the one-day final in 2007-08 and who will ever forget Brendon McCullum's marvellous innings of 170.
The memory still brings a broad smile to Hesson's face.
"There were a lot of guys there that day who had been through a lot and to come through the other side - there was a lot joy. It was great."
There was more success the following summer. Otago dominated the twenty/20 tournament and hosted Canterbury in the final. The game was abandoned without a ball bowled and Otago earned the right to contest the Champions League in India.
But success has come at a price. It is a demanding job and one which has taken Hesson away from his young family an awful lot.
He plans to take a month's break and spend some time with his wife Kate and daughters Holly (4) and Charlie (8 months) while deciding on his future.
That future, though, will probably involve cricket. He has devoted the last 15 or so years to the sport and still has a passion for the game.
Hesson served a seven-year apprenticeship as Otago cricket's director of coaching before heading to South America to coach the Argentina national side and do some work for the ICC. He returned in 2003 as assistant Otago coach under Turner and took over the reins the following season.
But after six summers in charge, Hesson believes it is time for a new voice and that he is leaving Otago cricket in good heart.
"I think Otago is in a good place at the moment. But it is time for some fresh ideas and there could be an exciting era ahead."
"You want to make sure that when you do leave it does not tumble over and there is no way it will do that. There are too many good players around and too many good people for that to happen."
Mike Hesson: Otago coach
Age: 36
Family: Married to Kate, children Holly (4) and Charlie (8 months)
The Hesson years
2005-06 to 2010-11
Highlights
Won one-day tournament 2007-08
Won twenty/20 tournament 2008-09
Reached one-day final in 2006-07, 07-08, 08-09
Reached twenty/20 final in 2006-07, 08-09
First-class record: Played 52, won 11, lost 11, drew 30
One-day record: Played 64, won 36, lost 26, tied 1, no result 6
Twenty/20: Played 42, won 21, lost 12, no result 9
