Mascoutah’s new girls basketball coach knows his way around the Indians program
Frank Evans has coached just about every sport imaginable during a highly-successful career at Mascoutah High School which spans over two decades.
For the past eight years, Evans has coached the Indians softball team and remains an assistant with the Mascoutah football program, which year-after-year, is one of the best in the Mississippi Valley Conference.
Now Evans, 57, is taking on another challenge of rebuilding the Indians girls basketball program. This will be the second time Evans has served as the Indians girls coach after leading the program from 2005-08.
“Why am I coming back as the head coach? Well — and while I enjoy coaching many sports — I really enjoy coaching basketball,” Evans said. “I resigned as softball coach to do this, and I really believe that with hard work by everybody that we have the talent here and talent coming in during the next few years to where we could be very strong.
“I’m excited for this opportunity and can’t wait to get started.”
Evans takes over the Indians program from Robert Seaberry, whose team went 5-25 in 2019-20. The Indians, whose last winning year came in 2015-16 when they finished 16-13, have won only 17 games combined the last four campaigns.
Evans, however does have talent returning for the 2020-21 season. Sophomore Sophia Loden averaged 10 points a year ago as a freshman and athletic Alanna Brooks also returns for her senior season.
“We have our best shooter back in Sophia (Loden) and we have a number of other underclassmen back who, with a year under their belts, should be improved. There are about four 6-footers who play volleyball that I’m trying to get to play basketball,” Evans said. “You can have athletes who can run and get up and down the floor and you can have shooters. But it you don’t have anybody to rebound, you are going to struggle to be successful.”
Indians AD confident in Evans
Masscoutah Athletic Director Scott Battas knows it will take some time for the Indians to be at the same level with MVC and perennial state powers Highland and Civic Memorial. However, Battis said he feels Evans, with his experience and knowledge, is the man who can help rebuild the program.
“Frank is a veteran coach who still has a great deal of passion for basketball and for this community. I was impressed by his enthusiasm to jump back in the ring and try to rebuild our hoops program and I believe at this time, he is the right person for the job,” Batttas said.
“He has had teams at the top of the MVC before and with the young talent coming up through the system, he will have an opportunity to right the ship here pretty quickly. I have known Frank for a long time and am really excited about this opportunity for him.”
Building foundation at middle school, junior high level key
Evans said he feels to build a successful high school program, starting at the lower levels is critical.
“(Former coach) Terry Moeller always said that if you have two or three quality players with each class that you can build a successful program. The key is building a strong foundation at the middle school and junior high levels and helping them develop from there,” Evans said. “We have some good young coaches who I think can help us be successful again here pretty quickly.”
