In 1969, Bass was hired as head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders replacing Gene Gibson.
[4] Bass cited a challenge to return to the college game and a distaste for the long pro season and its demands on his time away from family for accepting the position of head coach at Texas Tech.
28 games into the 1974-75 ABA season, Bass was hired by the San Antonio Spurs to replace Tom Nissalke.
[9] After the 1976 season, Bass moved into the Spurs' front office, assuming the role of general manager, with Doug Moe becoming head coach.
Various players that Bass acquired to play for the Spurs included David Robinson and Avery Johnson.
Bass made a trade for Terry Cummings before the start of the 1989-90 season to go along with the rookie Robinson and Maurice Cheeks.
In 20 seasons with the franchise, Bass saw the Spurs reach the postseason seventeen times with him serving as either coach, general manager or vice president of basketball operations.
He soon traded Alonzo Mourning for Glen Rice, Matt Geiger, Khalid Reeves and a 1996 first-round draft pick.
He traded for players such as Vlade Divac on the day of the NBA draft and sent Larry Johnson (who had signed a twelve-year deal in 1993) to the New York Knicks for Anthony Mason and Brad Lohaus.