Longtime Daily American Republic editor Stan Berry recalls covering the 1979 Three Rivers Raiders men's basketball team, which won the first of two national championships under legendary head coach Gene Bess.
Bess, who passed away Friday morning at the age of 91, left a five-decade legacy of achievement at Three Rivers College. But he also left an indelible imprint on Berry, who viewed the coaching icon as a close friend and confidant. He watched Bess's teams accrue many of the 1,300 wins that put the legendary coach at the top of the NCAA victories list. However, one of the main things about Bess didn't center around his wins on the court, but his faith off the court.
Bess found the Lord as a young teen and implemented his faith into his philosophy as a coach and as a mentor.
“It was somewhere during that period of time that I prayed and realized that Jesus Christ was important to me,” Bess once said in an interview. “I went to Bible school in the community that I was in, and I knew Jesus, but I knew more about him than I actually knew him.”
Berry, who served as the DAR's sports editor before transitioning to the executive editor position, reflected on the late coach's dedication to defensive principles and how he predicted that Bess's bunch would finish with a .500 record at the entering that first championship season. As usual, Bess didn't settle for complacency, and neither did his squad. In fact, Bess and his team ended up winning a national championship, defying and crushing Berry's preseason predictions.
After the national title game and in the midst of players celebrating the victory, a few members of the team threw Berry into the pool as a token of "appreciation" for predicting they'd have a disappointing campaign. Berry didn't take the memory personally, but remembered how Bess attempted to prevent him from being soaked in the first place.
"Even though he knew those guys meant no harm, he always made sure to look out for those around him," Berry said. "He didn't want me to get drenched, but he also understood that my prediction certainly helped motivate his team to perform at their highest capability, and that resulted in a national championship."
Berry also recalled Bess's firm but fair operations of his program, demanding the best out of his players on and off the court.
"He was a man of morals and principles on and off the court, because he required a lot out of his teams," Berry said. "However, he led by example and also emphasized defense over everything. Some of the players weren't always the best scorers, but he made sure that their defense was more than up to par."
Bess earned a spot in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 2023 for his career accolades, and Berry couldn't have been more pleased to see where his friend's successes led. Berry reminisced several times about coaches who were eager to recruit Bess's kids at four-year colleges because they knew the caliber of player they were getting.
"There were numerous times under Coach Bess that I saw guys that didn't always get a lot of playing time, but they ended up getting recruited because coaches understood the type of player that was under the guidance of Coach Bess. That kid would play hard-nosed defense and make an impact, because that's what Bess taught all of his players to do."
Another former DAR sportswriter and editor, Mike Buhler, viewed Bess as a mentor and supporter, often crediting the longtime TRC coach as an inspiration for entering the sportswriting realm. However, one of Buhler's key reasons for respecting Bess centered around his values as a Christian man who put his faith at the forefront and wasn't ashamed at all in doing so.
“Coach Bess was a great coach, but more than that, he was a great human being,” Buhler said. “He lived out his Christian faith and touched countless lives with his example both on the court and off. But more than that, he was my friend and my mentor. That has vastly enriched my life.”
Robert Kirby, the current head coach at Three Rivers College, reflected with pride on having played for Bess as a Raider.
"He expected the best out of his players, and that's what he got," Kirby said. "Coach Bess was also very professional with how he dealt with people, and he also made sure things were done the right way. He didn't let players remain stagnant in their growth on and off the court, and he made sure they developed into proud men."
Another former Three Rivers standout, Elgin Lee, played for Bess in the early 2010s and helped the Raiders reach the NJCAA tournament and capture a region title during his time in Poplar Bluff. While Bess could be tough to handle on the court at times, Lee always could count on Bess to wrap his arms around him off the court.
"He helped develop boys into strong men, and that's something that extends long beyond the sport of basketball," Lee said. "It was an honor to play for him because he also maximized our talents, and he did a great job being a leader. I am proud to have been one of the dozens upon dozens of players to be impacted by him as a coach and as a man."
Jake Baehr served as the Three Rivers mascot from 2003 to 2010, and he talked about a memory that stuck with him that involved Bess.
“I remember Coach Bess looking at somebody, and he said, 'Son, you need to get humble, and you need to start moving that ball,'” Baehr said. “And I never forgot those words. And so now I get to travel all over the United States, and I get to stay humble. I always think to myself, 'What can I do for the person standing in front of me?' So I challenge you here for the rest of your life, 'What can you do for the person standing in front of you?'”
As the head coach at Three Rivers, Bess encouraged his players to attend church.
“I try to let them know from time to time that it’s the most important decision they’ll ever make,” Bess said. “There are other important decisions like coming to this college, but it’s not as important [as] accepting the Lord, marrying the right woman, and then you have your children — all those are very, very important in your life.”