NJCAA mourns the passing of Hall of Fame Coach Gene Bess
Bess was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 2024
Charlotte, NC – The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) joins the basketball community in mourning the passing of NJCAA Hall of Fame coach Gene Bess, the winningest coach in college basketball history.
Bess built one of the most remarkable careers in the sport while leading the men's basketball program at Three Rivers College, amassing more than 1,300 victories and impacting countless student-athletes, coaches and colleagues throughout his legendary career. Throughout his career, he has coached two future NBA players such as Marvin McCrary and Latrell Sprewell, and at least 42 former Raiders went on to become coaches.
Coach Bess led his teams to 17 NJCAA national tournament appearances with two national championship titles. At the time of his retirement in 2020, Bess had 1,300 wins, the most in collegiate basketball at any level with a final coaching record of 1,300-416.
In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to junior college basketball, the Association inducted Bess into the NJCAA Hall of Fame, cementing his place among the junior college all-time greats.
"Coach Bess may be the winningest coach of all time, but he was also a true winner at life," NJCAA President and CEO, Dr. Christopher Parker, said. "He wanted more for everyone and pushed people to be the best of themselves and that's why he was so successful."
Beyond the wins and championships, Bess will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to developing young people and for leaving an indelible mark on generations of student-athletes.
The NJCAA extends its deepest condolences to the Bess family, the Three Rivers College community, and all those whose lives were touched by Coach Bess' remarkable legacy.
About NJCAA
Since 1938, the NJCAA has served as the premier governing body for two-year collegiate athletics, providing student-athletes with opportunities to prepare, compete, succeed, and achieve in both their academic and athletic disciplines. The NJCAA is the second largest national intercollegiate athletic organization in the United States, with over 500 member schools, 60,000 athletes and 3,400 teams competing in 28 different sports. Each year, the NJCAA sponsors 57 national championships and invitationals.
To learn more regarding the NJCAA Foundation, as well as the Hall of Fame and Awards, visit the NJCAA Foundation website.
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