The legacy of Gene Bess cannot be underestimated when it comes to the impact that the longtime head coach made on Three Rivers men's basketball.
Manning the position from 1971 until his retirement in 2020, Bess redefined the word winning in Poplar Bluff, completing his tenure with the most victories in NCAA basketball history at all levels. During his time at the helm of Three Rivers, Bess accumulated a record of 1,300-416 while capturing two national championships in 1979 and 1992.
Bess hired his son Brian to help operate the program in the mid 1990s, and he gives his son credit for helping extend his career.
“I never did think that he and I agreed on a lot and felt the same way a lot about things, and that was good. If we agreed, we’d only need one of us. I always want his input on basketball situations. That was always helpful for me, for him to be around,” Gene said. “He was there to help me through the situations where maybe I was not hearing the game really well. He has extended my career for many years, so I’ve been blessed.”
The older Bess's exploits on the sidelines earned him an induction into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 2023.
Bess passed away at the age of 91 on Friday morning, but his accomplishments and legacy will continue to forever impact the city of Poplar Bluff and TRC's athletic programs.
A lifelong Missourian, Bess first operated in the high school ranks, accumulating a record of 237-95 between three high schools before taking over Three Rivers College hoops entering the 1970-71 season. Having served as an assistant during the previous season at TRC and reflecting on the program's struggles that season, Bess told his wife Nelda not to unpack too many of their belongings in case things went south.
It's safe to say that both remained in Poplar Bluff for a very long time, as Bess remained the coach of the basketball program at Three Rivers for five decades.
In his first season as the main guy of TRC, the Raiders captured their first region title and finished fourth in the nation, completing a tremendous turnaround from the prior season's record.
"Coach Bess always made sure you competed at a high level, and he didn't settle for anything less than that," current Three Rivers coach and former Raider player Robert Kirby said. "Playing hard wasn't optional, it was required, and he brought the best out of his players on and off the court."
Three Rivers won 23 region titles, making 17 appearances in the NJCAA tournament. In the midst of their success under Bess, his teams won 20 or more games in a season 42 times, while also getting to 30 or more wins 16 times. In addition to his regular-season accolades, which are tremendous, Bess also thrived in the postseason. His teams reached the NJCAA tournament semifinals eight times, making four trips to the national title game.
“Coach Bess will be remembered for his record number of wins, two national championships, and a Hall of Fame career. He was also a teacher and mentor, a husband and father, and a friend and neighbor who was a devout Christian who shared his faith and love. His legacy will live through his family, friends, players, students and the Poplar Bluff community,” said Brian Rosener, president of the Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame.
Bess is also in the Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, and the NJCAA Hall of Fame, among others. His tenure in Poplar Bluff brought structure and a standard of excellence to a program that desperately needed it when he took over in the early 1970s.
Bess turned into a Poplar Bluff icon and eventually received a statue in his honor outside of the Three Rivers basketball stadium.
Gene and Nelda Bess were married for 65 years; she survives along with two children, Janell Hartmann and Brian Bess, who played for and was an assistant coach for 27 seasons with his father before taking over the program following his 2020 retirement; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.