Gene Bess, the legendary junior college basketball coach who held the record for the most wins in college basketball history, has died at age 91.
His son Brian shared the news on Friday, writing, "This morning at 4:00am my dad went to be with Jesus.
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We are making arrangements and will let you know when we will celebrate."
Bess spent 50 seasons as head coach at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
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He compiled a staggering 1,300-416 record, making him the winningest coach across all college basketball levels, surpassing Division I icons like Mike Krzyzewski and Geno Auriemma.
Under his leadership, the Raiders made 17 appearances in the NJCAA national tournament, reaching the Final Four eight times.
They won national championships in 1979 and 1992, and were runners-up twice.
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Bess was named National Coach of the Year twice. He retired in 2020 after five decades on the bench.
In 2023, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
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Among the thousands of players he coached was former NBA star Latrell Sprewell, who played two seasons at Three Rivers and held deep respect for Bess.
