BIG SKY PRESS RELEASE
Idaho State men’s basketball head coach Bill Evans was named the Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year in voting conducted by the league’s coaches. Evans has led Idaho State to a fourth-place finish in the Big Sky regular season standings and a first-round bye at this year’s conference tournament. ISU finished 12th last season and was picked to finish in the cellar again this season.
“It is an honor to receive this award but I can’t do what I do without the outstanding support of my coaching staff, players and administration,” Evans said. “This award is a reflection of the tireless support we receive from not only so many areas in our department but it also reflects the support and sacrifices my family makes and those of my coaching staff. It is a great time to be a Bengal and I am excited about the future of Idaho State basketball.”
The Bengals’ 16-14 record is the sixth best start since the 1976-77 season and the 11-7 conference record is the best conference winning percentage (.611) since the 2000-01 team finished 10-6 (.625). The Bengals have set a school record for 3-pointers made in a season with 244 and ISU had its first first-team all-conference player since 2008-09 in Ethan Telfair, the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year.
Evans is the fourth Idaho State coach to earn Coach of the Year honors. Herb Williams received the honor in for the 1993-94 season, Jim Boutin picked up the award in the 1986-87 season and Jim Killingsworth was named Big Sky Coach of the Year in twice (1973-74 and 1976-77).
Idaho State enters the 2016 Big Sky Conference men’s basketball tournament tomorrow at approximately 2:35 p.m. Pacific. The No. 4 seeded Bengals will face No. 5 North Dakota in the conference quarterfinals.