Gene Bass has sadly passed away at the age of 91. The legendary basketball coach, who is in the Hall of Fame, spent 50 years leading the Three Rivers Raiders. His son, Brian, made the announcement via social media on Friday, June 19.
Videos by Wide Open Country
"This morning at 4:00am my dad went to be with Jesus,"
Brian wrote. "We are making arrangements and will let you know when we will celebrate."Throughout his 50 seasons with the Three Rivers Raiders, Gene became the winningest coach in college basketball history. He oversaw over 1,700 games, earning 1,300 wins and suffering 416 losses. During his tenure, Three Rivers won two NJCAA titles, the first in 1979 and the second in 1992. In total, Gene led his team to 17 NJCAA tournaments.
"In 2023, Bess was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and honored with a statue at the Libla Family Sports Complex in Missouri," PEOPLE reported. "He was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2006."
Gene's death comes just six years after his retirement. He stepped down from his coaching position in 2020, leaving behind a legendary career.
The Basketball World Pays Tribute to Gene Bess
Once the news of Gene's passing became public, basketball coaches and fans alike began to pay tribute to the legendary coach.
"A sad day in Poplar Bluff - Coach Bess showed us all the impact a coach can have on decades of players," Mike Worley, head coach of Truman State, wrote on X.
Todd Franklin, head coach of Vincennes University's basketball team, also shared his condolences.
"Sad day ! Will always cherish the fact that I got to know Coach Bess and Coach against him. Absolutely remarkable career and person!"
Another user praised Gene's longevity, citing him as one of the greatest.
"One of the best coaches to ever do it! 50 years at Three Rivers CC, 1300 wins and 2 National Championships! Countless lives impacted through his coaching," the user wrote. "I enjoyed watching his teams play and talking with Coach Bess about recruits through the years!"
Currently, there is no information regarding what led to Gene's death. Details regarding his funeral are also unavailable at this time.
