Evans steps down as Falcons' coach

Terry Evans, known for his friendly candor and optimistic outlook, resigned Thursday as the Falcons' boys basketball coach. He was the longest tenured coach at River Valley High.

His departure now leaves track and cross country coach Paul Odegard and wrestling coach Ron Benton as the only original coaches remaining since the school opened in 2006.

Evans opted not to comment on his resignation.

Evans was a former boys basketball assistant at Union Mine before launching the school's program.

Playing with no seniors, the Falcons finished 4-23 overall and 0-15 in the Tri-County Conference during the program's first season in 2006-07.

But River Valley has steadily improved since. The Falcons posted back-to back 10-win seasons in 2008 and '09, before going 15-12 over the past two years.

Their 6-4 mark was good enough for a second-place tie in the TCC last season.

Evans' dedication and consistency will be missed.

"It's unfortunate," said Lindhurst High boys basketball coach Bob Jenson, who has known Evans since his days at Union Mine. "At River Valley, sometimes he was put in a tough position. He didn't always have enough horses, but he always had his players play hard. I consider him a friend in coaching."

Evans' coaching record was 54-80 overall and 16-47 in TCC play over his five seasons, however, the vast majority of those losses came in the first three years when he was building the program.

"Terry was deeply dedicated to his kids. No one worked harder to build a program and he did," River Valley athletic director Will Dawson. "I always appreciated his consistency and it was a pleasure watching him coach."

Dawson has little time to make a new hire.

Preseason conditioning for basketball begins Oct. 17 and practice starts Nov. 7.

"The position is open to the general public for the next five days and at the end of that time I will begin interviewing applicants," said Dawson, who added that he hopes to fill the position by late September.

River Valley opens the season at home against Center on Nov. 26.