DALLAS, Texas (February 17, 2022) – Former Lubbock Christian University men's basketball student-athlete and Hall of Honor member Rod Evans is joining another "hall," as he is a 2022 inductee to the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame, which will have its 25
th Anniversary Induction Luncheon April 2 at Renaissance Dallas Hotel.
Evans is one of 15 individuals scheduled for recognition, joining an induction class that includes Darren Oliver (baseball), Chris Bosh (basketball), Andrea Riley (basketball), Kurt Thomas (basketball), Earl Thompson (coach), Ray Crockett (football), Darrell Green (football), Michael Irvin (football), Ralph Cooper (journalist), Cleo Hearn (rodeo), Dr. Vicki Claybon Sellers (tennis), Leroy Burrell (track) and Ronnie Ford (track). Additional information in regards to attending the event can be obtained by contacting the TBSHOF at 214-565-9026.
In 2016, Evans had his LCU "No.11" jersey retired (first LCU men's basketball jersey to be retired), but his basketball journey began at Lubbock Christian College back in the 1960's. Hailing from Hobbs, N.M., Rob made his college basketball debut for Lubbock Christian College during the 1964-65 season under head coach Les Perrin. Rob made an immediate impact on the hardwood for LCC with his 19.7 points per game on his 51.5 shooting percentage from the floor. He followed with a 1965-66 season that led him to being named the first basketball junior college All-American in the history of the school. Rob was also deemed an All-Conference and All-Region selection during his career as a Chap, as well as the team captain as a sophomore. In 2004, he was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus by the university and was inducted into the Lubbock Christian Hall of Honor in 1990.
Following an impressive two seasons at LCC, Evans ventured on to star at New Mexico State where he captained the Aggies to a pair of NCAA Tournament berths. NMSU's 1967 team lost to Elvin Hayes and Houston in the NCAA Tournament, while the 1968 squad beat Dick Motta and Weber State before falling to eventual national champion UCLA and Lew Alcindor. In 1969, Rob made the transition from the floor to the sidelines as an assistant for the Aggies and helped the squad earn four NCAA Tournament bids in seven years with a trip to the Final Four in 1970. Evans returned to Lubbock in 1976 to assist Texas Tech where eight of his teams won 17 or more games with three Southwest Conference Tournament titles and three NCAA Tournament bids before a two-year stint at Oklahoma State where the team reached the Sweet 16 both years.
He made his head coaching debut in 1992, taking over at Ole Miss and winning West Division titles in 1997 and 1998. He recorded the first 20-win season in school history. After six seasons with the Rebels, he accepted the same position at Arizona State for the next eight years. His next stops included assistant positions at Arkansas and TCU, and at North Texas.
A multi-sport star, Evans was drafted out of high school by the Houston Colt 45s, which eventually became the Houston Astros. Following college, he signed as a free agent with the Dallas Chaparrals of the American Basketball Association and with the Oakland Raiders as a receiver.
In addition to his Lubbock Christian accolades, Evans, who was selected NMSU's most outstanding athlete in 1967 and has been named to the school's all-time basketball team, was inducted into the Aggie Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993. In 1991, he was elected by his peers to be president of the National Association of Assistant Basketball Coaches, was inducted into the Las Cruces, N.M., Hall of Fame in 1989, presented the Texas Tech Outstanding Achievement Award for 1986-87 and selected as NMSU's School of Education Alumnus of the Year in 1994.
