More?
That's partly because he's the head coach or, to use a more accurate term, Manager, with a capital M in the English Premier League football sense.
There's also that other lingering fact which might drive his thinking and hunger. It generally comes with a preceding 'but' and is also in capitals: He Didn't Play For New Zealand.
The simple counter argument is: That's Why He's Got Three People Who Did (Shane Bond, Craig McMillan and, on this trip, Paul Wiseman) Directly Reporting To Him.
Graham Lowe was one of the first to break this international representative mould in the early 1980s with the Kiwis and there have been three All Black coaches in the last 20 years (clue: their surnames start with H) in the same position.
Hesson's rise is no accident and neither are his results as someone who dedicated himself to his craft out of school. Last summer, he described himself as "no show pony" and a "clinical sort of bloke" who tries to "balance out the highs and lows".
Professionalism, objectivity and effective communication have been key to his tenure. A culture where team is placed before self is emerging - just ask Jesse Ryder and Doug Bracewell.
The pair haven't played for New Zealand since transgressing out late before the first India test this year.
He also appointed Brendon McCullum as captain, a player with whom he'd shared a long association and respect for at Otago. It'd take some creativity to argue McCullum hasn't made a decent fist of the role since.
Sure, Hesson endured the understandable brunt of a public backlash regarding the handling of the Ross Taylor's demotion and the subsequent horror of what is now simply known as 'The 45' in Cape Town against the best pace attack in the world.
But what have New Zealand done since?
An ODI series win over South Africa; a drawn home test series and ODI series win away against England; an ODI series victory over then-world No 1 India; three consecutive test series victories against India and then the West Indies (home and away); and the development of players such as Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Corey Anderson, Jimmy Neesham, Luke Ronchi and Ish Sodhi.
New Zealand are still underachieving in tournament play but, in 83 days, they have a once-in-a-career chance to rectify that with the World Cup at home.
Some of what Hesson has imparted is intangible. The key theme is building players capable of independent thought - instilling a sleeper cell of belief which could awaken when it matters. By investing autonomy in his charges, Hesson hopes to ignite match-winners.
Having observed Hesson this week in Dubai, little has changed from the disciplined figure who, in 2008, coached Otago to their first title in 20 years. There's the same firm handshake, the same eye contact in conversation, the same passion for the sport and his team. He has the resourcefulness of a QC and exudes the optimism you might reserve for a plumb lbw shout when defending his players and their methods.
Yesterday's draw with Pakistan produced one such gem. "Towards the end we were the only side who could have won the game."
He was right, eventually, because they had researched Pakistan's capabilities in those conditions and the test history of UAE venues to make more than a guesstimate before offering declaration bait. Call it a return to 'Hadleeism', but New Zealand cricket is the better for such scrupulous planning.
Andrew Alderson travelled to the UAE courtesy of Emirates.
Mike Hesson timeline
2003 - Appointed by the ICC as Argentina national coach for their failed bid to qualify for the World Cup.
2005 - Succeeded mentor Glenn Turner as Otago coach, breaking the region's trophy drought three years later.
2011 - Took over as Kenya coach but left his post 11 months into a two-year term after security issues.
July 2012 - Selected from 39 potential candidates to replace John Wright as New Zealand coach.
August 2012 - Ahead of first test series in charge, pledged support for Ross Taylor to remain as long-term skipper.
December 2012 - Taylor replaced by Brendon McCullum as captain in the short forms. Taylor rejected an olive branch to remain test captain.
2013 - Began the year with a 2-1 victory in an ODI series in South Africa, followed in June by the same result in England.
2013 - Defeated the West Indies at home to start a run of three successive test series victories.
2014 - Dropped Jesse Ryder after he was seen drinking at an Auckland bar the night before a test against India.
2014 - Achieved an historic test series win in the Caribbean, New Zealand's first victory away to a top-eight nation since 2002.
