Inductees

He grew up in a steel-mill town northeast of the Gateway Arch where you’ve got to put in your own work. And he did in baseball, becoming a high school pitching standout and a workhorse for the state’s premier college program – and wasn’t afraid.

That is, not afraid to start at the bottom, at a juco, to begin a career in coaching. In other words, after catching the eyes of Missouri State University and taking on the unsung role of pitching coach, Paul Evans never forgot where he came from.

“I’ve been fortunate,” Evans said. “We recruited good pitchers. The majority were blue-collar guys who bought into the system. They were not only willing to work hard, but willing to compete.”

Hired in 1988, Evans became one of the most respected college pitching coaches in the country – which is why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted Evans with the Class of 2021.

In essence, the man known as “Lump” has been a key lieutenant under head coach Keith Guttin (MSHOF 2015), with 2021 to be his 33^rd season on staff.

In that time, 63 Bears pitchers have signed pro contracts, with 13 reaching the big leagues. Five were first-round draft picks. Three earned roster spots with Team USA.

Additionally, 26 Bears were First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference, with 15 claiming All-American honors — including Nick Petree, the 2012 Collegiate Baseball/Louisville Slugger National Player of the Year.

Evans was the 2015 D1Baseball.com’s National Assistant Coach of the Year and the 2016 Midwest Scouts Association Coach of the Year.

Along the way, the Bears earned 1,068 victories and played in the 2003 College World Series, 10 NCAA Regionals and three NCAA Super Regionals.

The difference? Evans isn’t afraid to confront pitchers but steers away from overhauls. Even better, his down-home personality keeps the clubhouse loose.

“Most guys who have been around me know what I’m about,” Evans said, with a sheepish grin. “You have to have the ability to compete.”

In Granite City, Illinois, his older brother, David, third-grade teacher Alice DeMoulin and coach Babe Champion shaped his life.

Everything he did was to win David’s approval. DeMoulin pitched to him at recess and hooked him on reading and sports by supplying The Globe Democrat and The Post-Dispatch. Evans later became a St. Louis Metro East Scholar Athlete. Champion coached him in high school and American Legion, and the Champion brothers — Kirk, Keith and Brett – enhanced his love for the game.

As a junior and senior, Evans helped the Legion team to consecutive state runner-up finishes and signed with Southern Illinois-Carbondale in 1977, the summer when SIU played in its fifth College World Series since 1968.

Overall, Evans earned 18 wins and a school-record nine saves from 1978 to 1981. As a sophomore, his 0.84 earned run average ranked third nationally, and he pitched a no-hitter – still the program’s last one. The Salukis also reached regionals twice.

Unfortunately, he went undrafted. But, encouraged by SIU coach Richard “Itchy” Jones to pursue coaching, Evans at age 22 accepted the head coaching job at Shawnee College.

Two years in, the college axed its sports department.

“My dad worked at AO Smith for 37 years, my older brother worked for Granite City Steel and my younger brother became an electrician and later business manager for IBEW 309,” Evans said. “I remember my dad asking in my early years of coaching and especially after Shawnee College dropped athletic programs after my second year, ‘When are you going to use your (business) degree?’”

After Shawnee College, good friend Kirk Champion brought him and seven of his players to Rend Lake College. Over the next five seasons Evans helped build a strong program, serving as assistant coach for two years before taking over as head coach (1986-1988).

Evans was 201-95, with two conference championships, two sectional titles and two Coach of Year honors. After coaching in the prestigious Cape Cod League in 1988, Guttin came calling.

Since, Evans was inducted into of Halls of Fame at Granite City (Ill.) High School and Rend Lake.

So many others made his journey wonderful, too: Former wife Anna, and their children Kyle, Kameron and Kassidy; and former Bears coach Bill Rowe (MSHOF Legend 2016).

Said Evans, “I may have been shut out of the ultimate dream of every young baseball player in being drafted, but it became my mission and pleasure to see to it that I would help others reach their dream.”