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Chris Bess

Chris Bess

8th Year (3rd with Women's Basketball)
Edinboro '10


For the last six years, Callie Wheeler and Chris Bess have worked hand-in-hand. The first five were as assistant coaches for the women's and men's basketball teams, respectively. Last year, the two combined their efforts in an attempt to help the women's basketball team continue an incredible run in recent years.
 
Wheeler, who took over for long-time head coach Stan Swank as the head women's basketball coach in the spring of 2018, announced in July 2018 that Bess would join her staff as assistant coach. Bess, like Wheeler a former Fighting Scot, had served as men's assistant coach during Pat Cleary's five years as head coach.
The two proceeded to do just that, leading Edinboro to a 20-9 record, the ninth straight season with 20-or-more wins, along with a tenth straight berth in the PSAC Tournament, and a second consecutive season in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
 
"I am so excited to have Chris Bess join the Edinboro University Women's Basketball Family," related Wheeler at the time of his appointment. "He will make a great addition to our women's basketball program and culture because of his relentless work ethic and great knowledge of the game. The most impressive quality he brings to our program is his investment into the lives of the student-athletes' success on and off the court."

Bess joined the Edinboro men's basketball staff as assistant coach on July 15, 2013. Over his five years, he teamed with Cleary to lead the Fighting Scots to three PSAC Tournament appearances.
 
In his final season with the men’s program, Edinboro finished with an 18-11 record and came in fourth in the PSAC West after being picked to finish eighth in the coaches' preseason poll. The 18 wins were the most since the 2012-13 squad also won 18 games. Edinboro defeated Pitt-Johnstown and top-seeded Indiana(Pa.) to reach the PSAC semifinals for the first time since 2007-08. The Fighting Scots would fall to eventual PSAC champion East Stroudsburg in the semifinals.
 
The 2015-16 Edinboro edition reached the PSAC Tournament, ending the year with a 15-11 record.  In 2014-15, the Fighting Scots made the PSAC Tournament for the first time under Cleary, finishing at 14-13.

A 2010 graduate of Edinboro with a bachelor's degree in Financial Services and a minor in Economics, Bess began his coaching career in the fall of 2010, serving as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Shaker Heights High School in Cleveland, Oh. In three seasons he helped the Raiders to a 55-19 record, including back-to-back 20-win seasons.

Bess originally came to Edinboro to play football. After playing defensive tackle and tight end, he walked on to the men's basketball team and became an integral part of Edinboro teams which won 73 games. The burly 6'2", 225 lb. guard/forward played for Greg Walcavich from 2006-10. He appeared in 101 games, scoring 517 points and pulling down 285 rebounds, earning four letters. He served as a captain on the 2009-10 team.

In 2008-09, he averaged 7.7 ppg. and 4.3 rpg. while playing in 28 games, with nine starts. The following year as a senior, he averaged a career-high 8.0 ppg. with 3.9 rpg., playing in 27 games and starting six contests.

Upon graduation, Bess was appointed an assistant coach at Shaker Heights High School in August 2010, maintaining that position until joining the Edinboro staff. Shaker Heights won a pair of league titles, capturing the Lake Erie League championship in 2012 and the 2013 Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division. In addition, the Raiders won three straight OHSAA Division I sectional championships and two straight district crowns. They also made one regional final appearance and two regional semifinal appearances.

In addition to his duties at Shaker Heights, Bess was self-employed as a player development specialist. He quickly became renowned for his ability to develop talent and has a strong network of contacts on the high school, AAU and collegiate level.

Bess was also an exemplary figure off the field as a student-athlete at Edinboro. He was chosen by the athletic department to represent the University at the 2010 NCAA Division II Leadership Academy. He was a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and served as a representative on the Edinboro University Master Plan Committee. Finally, he was the recipient of the 2009 Edinboro University Ebony Excellence Man of the Year Award.
 
Bess and wife Alisha were married on June 14, 2019 and reside in Edinboro along with five-year-old son Aiden. He also serves as the Special Assistant to the Athletic Director - Internal Operations.