Jim Bessey is an Oakland native where he graduated from Williams High School. Bessey compiled an overall record of 475-293 in 40 years as a varsity head coach, with a 421-267 mark over 36 seasons at Mt. Blue and a 54-26 record in four years at neighboring Madison High School. His team qualified for the tournament 21 of the last 26 years of his reign at Mt. Blue and his 1997 team won the Eastern Maine Championship.
Bessey starred in basketball and football at the former Williams High School before going on to Farmington State Teachers College, now the University of Maine at Farmington. He is currently an assistant coach under Dick Meador at the University of Farmington.