Gene Bess: the winningest coach

In case you didn’t know, there is a museum here in Poplar Bluff. It has tales of us, our family, and our history. I want to tell you some of those tales found within the museum walls.

Who is the winningest coach in U.S. history? Who has won 1300 games, losing only 416? A 77% winning average. It is Three Rivers College’s own sports legend Gene Bess. He brought home 36 National Junior College Athletic Association regional championships and two national championships (1979 and 1992), and twice was named Coach of the Year.

Gene coached high school basketball for 12 years and always wanted to coach college ball. He became the Three Rivers Community College basketball coach in 1971. He was on the cutting edge of training his athletes. He began using training films of previous games, introduced weight training to his players, and started a nutrition program for them.

“I felt I understood college basketball” Bess said. “I love junior college basketball. It is the best form of basketball I know.”

Many of his players went pro including Latrell Sprewell. He was the first coach in history to reach 1000 wins in a career. Bess turned down numerous coaching offers from well known colleges to remain at Three Rivers and Poplar Bluff. After 50 years, Bess retired.

Gene Bess was honored by being inducted into six sports hall of fames, including the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and the Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame. Gene’s Hall of Fame plaque and his sports memorabilia are on display in the Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame located in the Poplar Bluff Museum. The Museum is handicap accessible and open every Sunday free of charge from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 1010 Main Street, Poplar Bluff (Formerly the Old Mark Twain School). Tell them Mike sent you!

Mike Shane is a veteran, Poplar Bluff resident and board member for the Poplar Bluff Museum.