Kirkwood baseball steps up to the plate
Veteran player/assistant coach and sports entrepreneur steps into renowned college program
When John Lewis announced his retirement from coaching at Kirkwood Community College, school officials looked far and wide for someone to continue the respected, winning tradition Lewis built for more than three decades.
They found an enthusiastic recruit in their own backyard, and a familiar face in eastern Iowa athletics circles in the bargain. Kirkwood announced that Tim Evans will step in to lead Kirkwood’s NJCAA Division II program, effective July 25.
“This is a great day. I’m very excited to join Kirkwood and get the opportunity to lead the team and give big opportunities to young men,” Evans said. “I owe a lot to John Lewis, starting as a player for him back in ’88. I’m blessed to get this opportunity and have my family close by, too. This is going to be an awesome experience.”
Evans comes to the role with a deep knowledge of the Eagles Baseball program. He earned All-Region honors both of his Kirkwood seasons, then continued at Southern Arkansas University, where he won All-AIC and All-Conference honors and made the Honorable Mention All-American roster in 1991. That same year Evans also won the Auburn Smith Award at Southern Arkansas.
Evans later played in the minor leagues for the Houston Astros in the Jackson Generals, Tuscon Toros and Osceola Astros clubs. He also played for the Quad City River Bandits in 1993, earning a Midwest All Star berth.
Evans played 31 games for the Houston Astros in the early season of 1995 before returning to the Midwest and an assistant coaching stint at Kirkwood from 1996 to 2000. Evans also served as pitching coach for the Waterloo Bucks in 1997-98, helping the team lead the Midwest League in ERA stats.
Area collegiate baseball fans may also recognize Evans for his assistant coaching roles at Iowa State (2000-2001) and University of Iowa (2001-03.) In the past decade Tim Evans also parlayed his love of athletics into business ventures. He founded Diamond Dreams in 2003, a baseball and softball academy based in Iowa City. Evans then opened America’s Ball Game in 2009, a Cedar Rapids based baseball and softball training-coaching program for young players at all levels through camps, clinics, leagues and individual instruction.
Kirkwood Athletics Director Doug Wagemester saluted Evans for his “drive, heart and love of the sport” in welcoming him to the college program.
“Anyone who has spent more than 30 seconds with Tim Evans knows that he is 110 percent in the game, on whatever he signs on for. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the program, and will build on the great legacy that John Lewis grew at Kirkwood for many years. Tim knows that spirit well, as John saw his potential and brought him to Kirkwood more than 20 years ago. We look forward to Tim guiding more great futures forward, from Kirkwood to wherever they want to go,” Wagemester said.
As he considered the months and years ahead, Evans had his own hopeful thoughts about the game, college and players.
“I know that academically we’ll be strong, to match our strengths athletically. We’re going to find good young players that will grow and shine as Kirkwood Eagles,” he said. “They are going to come first from right here in eastern Iowa, then across the state and the Midwest. I hope to pass on the good fortune I enjoyed here as a student and coach, and give these young men the same chances and same support. They will live up to the standards we hold for them, on and off the field.”
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