MOBILE, Ala- The University of Mobile has announced the hiring of Billy Evans as the school's new head women's basketball coach. He brings 11 seasons of coaching experience at Southern States Athletic Conference rival Belhaven University.
 
"We are excited to bring Billy on board here at UM," Athletic Director Joe Niland said. "His enthusiasm and dedication to the game has been evident in what he has been able to do at Belhaven.  We know with the resources he has to work with here at UM, that he can continue the success he had at Belhaven."

Evans takes over the Lady Rams’ program after winning 51 games over the past two seasons with the Blazers, and making back-to-back trips to the NAIA Women's Basketball National Tournament. In 2012-13, Mobile will be looking to get back to the tournament for the first time since 2005-06. Evans comes to Mobile with a 166-163 career coaching record.

"I'm excited to come to Mobile," Evans said. "I believe the school offers the resources to compete for championships at both the conference and national level year in and year out. This is a great opportunity."

He has coached the past two SSAC Player of the Year winners and three NAIA All-Americans over the past two seasons, including a 1st-teamer last year. Evans’ teams have ranked in the Top-15 in turnover margin in the NAIA in each of the last five years and in the Top-17 in steals in each of the last four seasons.

Prior to arriving at Belhaven, Evans spent the 2000-2001 season as an assistant with the Millsaps College women’s basketball program. A 1977 graduate of Northeast Louisiana University, he has been involved in coaching for more than 25 years, at both the high school and collegiate levels. He has served as head coach of men's and women's varsity basketball, tennis and track, as well as assistant coach for high school football and baseball.

Evans served as Head Coach of the women's basketball team at Northwest Rankin High School (Brandon, Mississippi) from 1994-2000. While at Northwest, he compiled an overall record of 94-54, and took the 1999 team to the state championship game for the first time in the school's history.