Missoula, Mont. (7/10/08-dg) - Veteran coach Bill Evans will
join The University of Montana Grizzly men's basketball program as an
assistant coach, announced UM mentor Wayne Tinkle.
Evans has been in the coaching ranks for 30 years, most recently
as the head coach at his alma mater of Southern Utah University in
Cedar City, where he was the head man for 15 seasons from 1992 to 2007.
He served as an assistant coach for the Thunderbirds from 1990-92 before
being elevated to the head job.
"I am honored to become a part of a program that has such great
tradition," said Evans via phone this afternoon. "I am also
appreciative of Coach Tinkle giving me this opportunity. I look at
Montana as the flagship program in the Big Sky Conference.
"I know that the success of Grizzly athletics and Grizzly
basketball are very important to the people of Montana, and I will do
everything I can to keep that success going," Evans said. "There is a
lot of potential in the men's basketball program at Montana, and I will
strive with coach Tinkle and our staff to reach that potential. My
family is important to me, and The University of Montana and Missoula
will be a great environment for them."
Evans' 209 career victories at Southern Utah is the most in
school history. He was the coach of the year four times during his
tenure there. He guided the Thunderbirds to their first ever NCAA
tournament berth in 2001, a 67-64 setback to ninth-ranked Boston College
and had a record of 25-6 that season. He coached 27 all-conference
players during his tenure at SUU.
"Bill brings a ton of experience to our program," Tinkle said.
He is an outstanding person, with a proven track record with his 15
years as a Division I head coach. As a head coach he graduated his
players, brought his team to the NCAA tournament, and had a couple of
players go on to play in the NBA. He brings instant credibility to our
staff. He has valuable recruiting contacts, which will hopefully open
up new geographical recruiting areas for us.
"Everybody I talked to throughout the interview process, which
was lengthy, had nothing but great things to say about his character and
integrity," Tinkle continued. "With the incoming recruits, our
returning players, and the guys we redshirted, his addition is another
positive step for us in the right direction. We are extremely excited
to welcome Bill and his family to the The University of Montana and to
our Grizzly basketball program."
Prior to coaching at SUU, he had stints at the University of
Alaska-Anchorage (1986-90); an assistant at SUU (1985-86); at Idaho
State (a graduate assistant from 1984-85); and a was a volunteer
assistant coach at Southern Utah State College (SUU, 1983-84). He began
his coaching career as the head mentor at Port Sulphur High School in
New Orleans, from 1977-83, and had a six-year record of 112-47 there.
He earned his B.A. degree in physical education at Southern Utah
in 1972. He received his master's degree in athletic administration
from Idaho State in 1985.
Bill and his wife, Sunny, have five children: Quentin, Dave,
Tori, Trajan, and Kansas.
Evans begins his duties at Montana on July 14.