Former Tech Coach Amo Bessone Passes Away
Former Michigan Tech hockey coach Amo Bessone died Monday (Jan. 11) in New Mexico. He was 93. Bessone posted a 20-31-2 record in three seasons on the Huskies bench. He then moved on to Michigan State where he coached for 28 seasons with a record of 367-427-20 and led the Spartans to the 1966 national championship. He was also the Huskies coach in the first Winter Carnival in 1950 when they defeated Michigan State 11-3 and 10-0.
Born Nov. 22, 1916, Bessone was raised in West Springfield, Mass. He attended West Springfield High School and played at Hebron Academy and the Kent Hills School in Maine. He earned his undergraduate degree at Illinois in 1943, where he lettered in baseball in addition to hockey.
He moved onto an AHL career, but that was cut short due to his service in World War II.
He began his coaching career at Westfield (Mass.) High in 1946, and made his move into the college ranks at Michigan Tech two years later.
Bessone was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame and Michigan State’s Hall of Fame in 1992.