SEMO FCA honors Gene Bess

Legendary basketball coach Gene Bess received more flowers for his contribution to the area and his impact on sports.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes of Southeast Missouri honored the longtime Three Rivers College men’s basketball coach with a special presentation Thursday night at First Baptist Church for his extraordinary coaching career.

“This is a great feeling because I’ve had so many blessings come my way just recently,” Bess said about being honored by the FCA. “I’m so thankful that God has just involved me and blessed me with another blessing to be recognized. I appreciate the FCA and have been around them for as long as I can remember, so this is good to receive.”

Bess said he really appreciates the mission of the FCA as they continue to impact the schools and communities in various ways with the gospel by helping them build a better relationship with their faith. He believes that many of his accomplishments would’ve never been possible without God.

“I believe life is so much better when you have God in your heart,” Bess said. “I tried to tell every player I brought in that they need to get into the right relationship with Jesus, and that’s really more important to me than anything I could do for them.”

Bess retired as the Three Rivers men’s basketball coach in 2020 as the all-time wins leader in college basketball history with 1,300 wins and will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in a ceremony Saturday, Aug. 12, in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Bess will be inducted with the likes of legendary players and coaches such as Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Pau Gasol, Dwyane Wade, Becky Hammon, Gregg Popovich, Jim Valvano, Gene Keady, Gary Blair and David Hixon.

Bess said getting inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame feels like he’s putting the cherry on top of his long career. He’s in the Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame, Missouri Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Three Rivers College Athletic Hall of Fame and soon will have his rightful spot alongside a few other basketball legends.

“I thought everything that I would ever want had already happened for me, and I’m just so blessed,” he said. “I believe this experience is something my family will really enjoy, especially for my grandchildren. I have to give credit to my wife, son and daughter because as great as my career was, it was them that had to feel that sacrifice.

A coach puts his family through some pretty tough stuff, whether they want to or not. I appreciate them so much, and I want them to enjoy this moment at the Hall of Fame because it’s theirs too.”

Regardless of the many accolades, Bess said he would like for his legacy to be remembered as a person who was humble.

“I know that’s hard for any coach to do when they don’t have much success at the beginning, is to be patient and humble,” Bess said. “I was able to stay humble, but I also relied on my faith to get me through. It’s not hard for me to give God all the credit when the hall of fame comes knocking at my door. God is so good.”