THE WINNING GENE: TRCC COACH IS ONE OF THE BESS-T

In a bizarre freak of nature, it has been discovered that all of the Three Rivers Community College basketball players over the past 28 years possess a special gene that helps them play basketball.

It's been labeled Gene Bess.

Gene Bess is one of the best basketball coaches to ever blow a whistle in Southeast Missouri.

He's won two national junior college championships and has been named to three different halls of fame.

He hasn't had a losing season since becoming the TRCC head coach in 1971.

Entering this past season he boasted a lofty 832-204 record at Three Rivers. He's been named national junior college coach of the year twice.

The list goes on and on.

But the accomplishment that Bess takes the most pride in is preparing his players for life.

"I think every kid that spends two years here is prepared to do well at the next institution," said Bess. "I'm proud of that and we keep monitoring them. We like to see them finish their degrees and we've had a high rate. What's exciting to a coach is what they do on down the road."

While Bess, who was born in Jackson, takes pride in preparing his players, Poplar Bluff will remember Bess for his success on the court.

Since Bess has taken over the head coaching duties, the Raiders have qualified for the national tournament 12 times, and have finished in the top eight 11 of those times.

The Raiders finished first in the nation in 1979 and in 1992. They took second in 1994, third in 1978, and fourth in 1971, 1973 and 1990.

"We kind of had a dynasty here," Bess said. "I feel very fortunate that I was at the right place at the right time. I think that I paid the price. I worked in high school for 12 years and I had an extensive coaching background. The good Lord has really blessed me."

Before joining TRCC, Bess had a very successful career at the high school level. He won 250 high school games over a 12-year span at Lesterville High, Anniston (has since merged with East Prairie) and Oran.

In his last year at Oran, he took his team to the Class M state championship game where the Eagles lost after a controversial free-throw violation call in the final few seconds.

Bess has averaged about 28 wins per year in his tenure at TRCC. And his unfluctuating success is as remarkable as any stat.

"It's unbelievable that a guy can win 800 games and average as many wins a year as he has," Southwest Missouri State University-West Plains coach and former Three Rivers assistant coach Tom Barr told the Daily American Republic after Bess picked up his 800th win last year. "The true determination of a coach is consistency. He's been so consistent for a long period of time. It's a remarkable record. I've coached with him and I've coached against him. I tell everybody that there's not a better coach at any level. He takes whatever he's got and makes them winners."

Bess has coached many talented players in his tenure at Three Rivers.

Recruiting, he said, has a lot to do with bringing in good players, but luck has a lot to do with it.

Three Rivers' most famous product was not recruited by Bess at all.

"Somebody sent Latrell Sprewell here," Bess said. "He didn't even visit."

Sprewell, an NBA All-Star who led the New York Knicks to the finals last season, was a JUCO All-American with the Raiders in 1990.

Sprewell's reputation was marred a few seasons ago when he was suspended from the NBA for choking his coach.

Bess said he would have never expected such an outburst from Sprewell, saying that Sprewell was "a very smart and honest" player when he played at TRCC.

Typically, Bess said, he tries to recruit players who play hard, simply because the junior colleges can't compete with larger schools.

Bess spent about 18 years recruiting one such hard-working person. He landed that player and he is now his assistant coach.

"One of the highlights of my career is having my son (Brian) here," the elder Bess said. "He played for me and now he's my assistant. That's been a big thrill for ol' Dad."