He is best known for his long tenure as head football coach at the University of Indianapolis (UIndy), where he led the Greyhound program from 1972 to 1993, compiling a record of 114–99–9.
Bless was born in Indianapolis and attended Warren Central High School on the city's east side.
He was a lineman on the football team, co-captain and most valuable player in his senior year.
[2] Under his direction, the Greyhounds qualified for the NCAA Division III football championship playoffs in 1975 and won Heartland Collegiate Conference titles in 1978 and 1981; he was honored as conference coach of the year in each of those seasons.
[3] Bless served as a valued mentor for former players who became high school football coaches, including his sons Mark, Scott, and Tim, all of whom starred for the Greyhounds before going on to coaching careers at various central Indiana high schools.