College Basketball’s Winningest Coach is Leaving the Bench

Three Rivers College’s legendary basketball coach Gene Bess, who took over the Head Coaching job in 1971, has announced this past season, in which he notched career win #1300 on the final home game, was his last.

An amazing coach and person, Coach Bess, leaves a legacy which will be hard to match. He accumulated more victories than any other college coach at any level, including the NCAA leader, Mike Krzyzewski at Duke, who needs 143 to catch Gene. And more amazingly, Bess did it all while at one college.

Waiting in the wings, son Brian, his assistant since the 1993-94 season, will be taking over the Raiders program. Replacing a legend isn’t easy, and rarely works out for the new guy. But unlike most of those situations, bloodline is in play here. Having played for his dad at TRC, and having sat next to dad court side for the past 27 years, nobody knows the secrets to dad’s success than Brian.

Bryan Sherrer, longtime assistant, who also played for Coach Bess at TRC, will remain with the program as an assistant. Between the two Brian’s/Bryan’s, the pedigree runs deep and the future is in fine hands for the Raiders future.

Here is a link to the story from Scott Borkgren, Sports Editor for the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff, MO: https://wwwdarnews.com/story/2730413.html