Kenny Evans has traveled many miles over the years recruiting highly qualified student-athletes to play football and continue their education. Today, Evans returned fairly close to his Eastern Oklahoma roots where he was named Northeastern State University’s 17th head football coach.
Evans, a 1982 NSU graduate, earned a double major in physical education and biology.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for me,” said Evans, a native of nearby Warner Oklahoma. “When you look at the facilities, and in meeting with several within the NSU community, it is very easy to understand everything is in place for us to be successful in the Athletic Department, and specifically in the football program.
Most recently Evans coached linebackers and specialized in recruiting at Louisiana Tech University. He spent just one season there after a highly successful stint at the University of North Texas from 1998 through 2006. The 2005 All-American Football Foundation National Assistant Coach of the Year, Evans was assistant head coach for the “Mean Green” in 2005-2006, served as defensive coordinator from 2002-2005, recruiting coordinator from 2000-2002 and was a tight ends coach during the 1998-1999 seasons.
As an assistant coach, Evans boasts an impressive list of highlights which include eight conference championship teams at five different institutions: Four Sun Belt (North Texas); Big 8 (Oklahoma) and two runner-up finishes; Southeastern Conference (Florida); Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (Missouri Southern); and Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference (Southeastern Oklahoma State). He also helped teams to NAIA and NCAA Division II playoffs and has coached teams which have appeared in the Fiesta, Orange, and New Orleans bowls.
Evans began his coaching career at Miami (Okla.) High School in 1981 before embarking on a collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Oklahoma (1982-1984). He earned his Master’s Degree from OU in 1985 in physical education, specializing in sports administration.
From there he spent one season at the University of Florida coaching wide receivers, was Southeastern Oklahoma State’s defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator from 1986-1988, then spent nearly a decade at Missouri Southern in a similar capacity from 1989-1997.
Kenny is the son of NSU Alumni Pete and Louise Evans where his father coached in Oklahoma for over 30 years.
Evans is a member of the American Football Coaches Association, Coaches Associations in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Cross Timbers Christian Church. He has one son, Elliott, age 10.
