Evans may be close to job at USF
SAN FRANCISCO -- Even as USF officials were scrambling to defend Jessie Evans' academic record, sources in Louisiana reported Tuesday the Louisiana-Lafayette basketball coach was close to accepting the Dons' job.
Evans, 53, who has directed the Ragin' Cajuns to three straight 20-victory seasons and a berth in this year's NCAA Tournament, did not return phone calls to his office.
A USF spokesperson also declined comment, but ABC-TV affiliate KATC in Louisiana reported Evans was close to signing a contract. Ron Briscoe, who runs a regional recruiting service out of Lafayette, said Evans has a tentative verbal agreement with USF but will meet with ULL officials today before making a final decision.
"He's an outstanding recruiter, a good X and O guy," Briscoe said. "He's a guy that people are going to be very happy with."
Evans, a former Arizona assistant, has compiled a record of 132-81 in seven seasons at the Sun Belt Conference school.
USF athletic director Bill Hogan, who has spent six weeks searching for a replacement for fired coach Phil Mathews, disputed a Tuesday story in the ANG Newspapers that cited seven Louisiana-Lafayette players facing academic suspensions since the fall semester of the 2002-03. Hogan said that does not reflect Evans' commitment to academics.
Dr. Wayne Andrepont, faculty representative to the athletic department at Louisiana-Lafayette, confirmed Evans implemented two programs to help remedy academic issues on the team.
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By Jeff Faraudo, STAFF WRITER
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