Rob Evans (basketball)

Robert Oran Evans (born September 7, 1946) is an American college basketball coach. He was most recently the associate head coach with the University of North Texas.[1] Evans served as head men's basketball coach at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) from 1992 to 1998 and Arizona State University from 1998 to 2006.[2]

For the NBA basketball player, see Bob Evans (basketball).
Rob Evans
Biographical details
Born (1946-09-07) September 7, 1946
Hobbs, New Mexico
Playing career
1964–1966Lubbock Christian
1966–1968New Mexico State
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1969–1976New Mexico State (assistant)
1976–1990Texas Tech (assistant)
1990–1992Oklahoma State (assistant)
1992–1998Ole Miss
1998–2006Arizona State
2007–2011Arkansas (assistant)
2011–2012TCU (assistant)
2012–2017North Texas (associate HC)
Head coaching record
Overall205–201
Tournaments1–3 (NCAA Division I)
1–3 (NIT)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 SEC West Division (1997, 1998)
Awards
SEC Coach of the Year (1997)

Early years

Evans was born in Hobbs, New Mexico, the son of Gladys (née Spirlin), a home cleaner, and Oscar, a preacher and janitor. Robert was the fourth of seven children, all of whom would go on to graduate college.[3]

Evans played high school basketball at Hobbs High School under legendary coach Ralph Tasker. His senior year he was named co-captain. That year the team made it to the 1964 championship game and Evans was invited to the state all-star game in Albuquerque.[4]

Evans played junior college basketball at what is now Lubbock Christian University where he was named the school's first All-American. Both seasons he played at Lubbock Christian Evans was voted the teams’ best defensive player. In his second year with the team Evans was named team captain. In 1966 Evans earned his associate degree in Arts and Sciences.[5] At Lubbock Christian Evans was teammates with Gerald Turner who would later become Chancellor of the University of Mississippi. Turner was instrumental in Evans’ hiring as head basketball coach in 1992.[6]

Evans transferred to New Mexico State University for the 1966–67 season where he was coached by Lou Henson. He was named team captain and led the Aggies to a 15–11 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance. The next season Evans again captained the team to a 23–6 record and another NCAA Tournament appearance. In 1967 Evans was selected NMSU's most outstanding athlete.[7] In May 1968 Evans earned his bachelor's degree in education.[8]

Coaching career

After his graduation, Evans was hired as an assistant at New Mexico State under Henson. When Henson left for Illinois in 1976, Evans moved to Texas Tech and served for 14 years as an assistant under Gerald Myers. After two years as an assistant at Oklahoma State under Eddie Sutton, Evans was hired at Ole Miss as its first black coach in a major sport.

Evans inherited a program that had been one of the dregs of the Southeastern Conference for decades. The Rebels had not had a winning season in SEC play since 1982–83, and had only finished in the top half of the conference twice in 59 years of conference play. After four years rebuilding the program, the Rebels shocked the SEC by winning consecutive West Division titles in 1997 and 1998 and notching the first 20-win seasons in school history. Ole Miss had been one of the few longstanding members of a "power conference" to have never won 20 games in a season.

In 1998, Evans moved to Arizona State, which was reeling in the wake of a point-shaving scandal. His tenure at Arizona State was not nearly as successful as his tenure at Ole Miss, with only one NCAA appearance in eight seasons He was fired after the 2006 season.

Professional players coached
Ole Miss
Arizona State

Head coaching record
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Ole Miss Rebels (Southeastern Conference) (1992–1998)
1992–93 Ole Miss 10–184–126th (West)
1993–94 Ole Miss 14–137–94th (West)
1994–95 Ole Miss 8–193–136th (West)
1995–96 Ole Miss 12–156–10T–4th (West)
1996–97 Ole Miss 20–911–51st (West)NCAA Division I First Round
1997–98 Ole Miss 22–712–41st (West)NCAA Division I First Round
Ole Miss: 86–8143–53
Arizona State Sun Devils (Pacific-10 Conference) (1998–2006)
1998–99 Arizona State 14–166–129th
1999–00 Arizona State 19–1310–8T–4thNIT Second Round
2000–01 Arizona State 13–165–13T–6th
2001–02 Arizona State 14–157–117thNIT First Round
2002–03 Arizona State 20–1211–74thNCAA Division I Second Round
2003–04 Arizona State 10–174–1410th
2004–05 Arizona State 18–147–11T–6thNIT First Round
2005–06 Arizona State 11–175–13T–8th
Arizona State: 119–12055–89
Total:205–201

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References
  1. . UNT
  2. Rob Evans. sports-reference.com
  3. Devils' Advocate. The Phoenix New Times
  4. Devils' Advocate. The Phoenix New Times
  5. Rob Evans Profile. Sun Devil Athletics
  6. Devils' Advocate. The Phoenix New Times
  7. Rob Evans Profile. Sun Devil Athletics
  8. Devils' Advocate. The Phoenix New Times
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