Bess finds a balance between AD and coaching

Juggling multiple roles on a job can be stressful, but it’s just another day in the office for Brian Bess.

Bess wears many hats for Three Rivers Community College as he’s maintained a consistent role for the past three years as the athletic director and the men’s head basketball coach.

As the leading man responsible for not only coaching an entire team, Bess also has to manage the ins and outs of the athletic depart. For some, finding the balance between being the athletic director, coaching and family life might be impossible, but this is something Bess has grown accustomed to.

“My time as AD and coach has been really well,” Bess said. “We have really great coaches that make my job easier from the AD side. As for coaching, it’s been a blast with my supportive staff, and we always seem to have a pretty solid team that's continuing to grow.”

Bess took over both roles after his father, Gene Bess, who retired in 2020 and holds the record as the most-winningest college basketball in history with 1,300 wins over 50 years, all at Three Rivers College. Later this week, he will take his rightful place in the 2023 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for the class of 2023.

Despite his father’s success, Bess said he’s excited to continue the legacy that his father made for his family and doesn’t feel the pressure to try and fill his shoes as everyone expects.

Bess said he wants to continue the winning tradition and atmosphere of Raiders basketball that his father started many years ago and wants to give the fans the game they are accustomed to seeing. His first step to getting back to high-level basketball is winning the region and landing a spot in the national tournament.

The Three Rivers Raiders surround coaches Brian Bess, bottom left, and Gene Bess during the Region XVI semifinals in Jefferson City, Mo. File Photo

“I can’t express enough how proud I am of my dad,” Bess said. “He’s done an amazing job with college basketball, and I’m grateful that I could be a part of that. Stepping into the coaching role after him hasn’t been the easiest thing to do, but we are working on getting back to that level because we know the community has high expectations for this team.”

Bess has a never-ending job as athletic director. The athletic directors oversee all aspects of athletic programs associated with the school, including ordering equipment, hiring coaches and budgeting.

Though Bess takes on a lot of responsibility, he does get some downtime as the AD role takes a backseat during the season and credits the team around him who do the little things which help make his job less stressful. One key person is Willie Hilburn, the athletic facilities and equipment manager.

“Willie wears a lot of hats for us all around here,” Bess said. “He's a guy that helps all the teams with a little of everything, including doing setup and takedown and managing the small stuff we can’t get to sometimes. I’m just one person, so having someone who can step in and take some of the load off makes a difference.”

Bess said having multiple jobs has never seemed too much to handle because he doesn't know anything different. After watching his father all those years, working hard comes naturally, and so far, he’s managed life on and off campus.

“I was asked once how my father is away from coaching, and I told that person that Gene Bess is still the same no matter where he’s at,” Bess said. “When I leave the school, I am still the AD and coach, and I still have to represent those programs. I’m still learning as I go, and I've tried to do my best to represent my college even when I'm out. Right now, I think I have found the right balance of juggling both roles, and it’s really been fun.”