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USF Executive Director of Athletics Bill Hogan (left) welcomes Jessie Evans as the university’s new head basketball coach at a USF press conference April 22.
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Evans Focus of USF Basketball Hopes
New USF men’s basketball coach Jessie Evans already has his sights set high. And, at a school with a rich basketball tradition such as USF, that suits supporters just fine.
Named to the head coaching post on April 22, Evans brings with him credentials that back up his lofty aspirations. A .706 winning percentage (77-32) at Division I University of Louisiana-Lafayette over the last seven years, Coach of the Year Honors for the 2003-04 season, three consecutive 20-win seasons, and an NCAA championship earned as an assistant coach while at Arizona under Lute Olson in 1997 all give USF fans reason to look forward to the upcoming season.
“If we can win some games and some championships, maybe a national championship, that’s what it’s all about,” Evans told the San Francisco Chronicle.
But Evans isn’t about just winning basketball games. Upon meeting several of the team’s returning players for the 2004-05 season, Evans was equally interested in passing along encouragement and extolling the benefits that come from a college diploma.
“The challenge is to recruit student athletes and have them matriculate through college,” Evans said at a press conference at USF April 22.
Players say they are happy with USF’s choice. ?He is easy to communicate with and that’s the key in a coach-player relationship,? said starting junior Jerome Gumbs.
Evans, who signed a multi-year contract with USF, has been a consistent winner in his 26 years as a coach. For more details on his career history, visit the USF Dons Web site at usfdons.collegesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/042204aaa.html.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jessie to the USF family,” said USF Executive Director of Athletics Bill Hogan. “He meets all the criteria we had in mind and more. He has been associated with winning programs, has recruited successfully on the West Coast, nationally and internationally, and is an excellent on-court coach.”
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