Indiana University Athletics
Coach Evans Embracing Life After Football
8/23/2015 4:52:00 PM | Football
Former offensive lineman Ralston Evans has a new role
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
Ralston Evans suffered a brief identity crisis when doctors told him he couldn't play football anymore.
For years, Evans was able to conceal his lingering knee injuries. He made 21 out of a possible 24 starts over the last two seasons, pushing through any unexpected and oftentimes unexplainable pain which had become part of his daily life since suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) as a freshman.
Football players pride themselves in being tough. Everyone plays a little hurt from time to time, Evans said. Surely he could do the same. But the risk of a life-long injury became too daunting.
Reluctantly, Evans agreed with his doctors that playing football had become too risky. He just had one provision before cleaning out his football locker for good.
"I still wanted to help the team," Evans said. "I didn't care how. I just wanted to help."
Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson suggested Evans accept a medical hardship and take up a student coaching role. It was an opportunity for Evans to stay directly involved with the team's day-to-day activities without ever needing to take a hit.
Evans took to his new job immediately. The transition was so seamless that Evans hardly felt any different heading into the first day of practice.
That is, until someone called out his name.
"The guys were all calling me 'Coach Evans,'" he said. "I had to do a double take on that. I realized things were about to be a little different."
***
Coach Evans is a self-described "hands-on coach" at practice.
He loops a whistle around his neck and tucks his schedule into the back of his shorts. He still wears his old Hoosier football cutoff with the No. 62 written on the back—a clear reminder of how new he still is to the coaching staff.
Evans isn't hard to spot out on the field. He works side-by-side with offensive line coach Greg Frey at practice doing anything and everything he can to help out.
"I love having him out there with me," Frey said. "I just think in his heart he's open to do whatever helps this program, and that's what I love about him."
Evans' role isn't quite defined, Frey said. It's evolving every day.
Evans typically begins practice by briefing with the offensive line. He'll set up position drills and join Frey in giving players daily instruction.
During scrimmages, he'll walk up and down the sidelines barking out orders and correcting his former teammates' mistakes.
Evans is two full weeks into his coaching career, but some of his teammates are still adjusting a little slower than he did.
"It's definitely weird seeing him in coaches' stuff," junior Dan Feeney said. "But I feel he's made the transition good, and he's excited to be doing what he's doing. He takes a lot of pride in it, and we love that about him."
Evans' greatest strength is his relationship with the players, Frey said. They sympathize with one another.
Frey said Evans has an uncanny ability to relate to anyone on the team and cheer them up.
It's the little things that stand out to Frey, like Evans' ability to draw a laugh out of a freshman who's having a bad day or his positivity even in a dark moment.
"He just cares so much about his teammates," Frey said. "It's a passion thing. It's a connection thing. It's being able to share his experiences and maybe bring a smile to a freshman that's maybe missing home…
"It's invaluable. You can't teach that. That's just Ralston."
***
There's no hint of regret in Evans' voice when he talks about his transition to the sidelines.
He's gotten a lot out of football he says. The sport changed his life.
"I wouldn't be here without football," Evans said. "I'm really just thankful for all the opportunities I've had."
Evans made 21 starts and appeared in 22 games for the Hoosiers in three active seasons. He only missed three games over the last two years while playing on an offensive line that laid the groundwork for one of the nation's best passing attacks one year and an All-American rusher the next.
At the football team's banquet last season, Evans was presented the Harold Mauro "Loyalty to IU Football" Award for his dedication to the program.
Evans called it one of the proudest moments of his life.
"Ralston's a very unique kid," Wilson said. "He was a tremendous player for us. He's doing a great job this year. He's going to have a huge impact, and he's the type of kid who's going to have a huge impact on a lot of things in life. He's a pretty blessed kid."
Evans admitted he still doesn't know how he'll respond to not wearing a jersey on game day. It's something he said he'll have to get used to.
Coach Evans has high hopes for the upcoming year. He's holding his players to a high standard and expects nothing short of the best when Indiana kicks off a new season Sept. 5 against Southern Illinois.
"I think my guys are doing well," Evans said. "We made a lot of strength gains during the summer. We've got seven guys benching 400 plus pounds, so that's big for us. I've been really proud of the way Dimitric Camiel stepped up, as well as Wes Martin. We've got a deep group, so I really believe the sky is the limit as long as we stay healthy and stick to our fundamentals."
Spoken like a true coach.
IUHoosiers.com
Ralston Evans suffered a brief identity crisis when doctors told him he couldn't play football anymore.
For years, Evans was able to conceal his lingering knee injuries. He made 21 out of a possible 24 starts over the last two seasons, pushing through any unexpected and oftentimes unexplainable pain which had become part of his daily life since suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) as a freshman.
Football players pride themselves in being tough. Everyone plays a little hurt from time to time, Evans said. Surely he could do the same. But the risk of a life-long injury became too daunting.
Reluctantly, Evans agreed with his doctors that playing football had become too risky. He just had one provision before cleaning out his football locker for good.
"I still wanted to help the team," Evans said. "I didn't care how. I just wanted to help."
Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson suggested Evans accept a medical hardship and take up a student coaching role. It was an opportunity for Evans to stay directly involved with the team's day-to-day activities without ever needing to take a hit.
Evans took to his new job immediately. The transition was so seamless that Evans hardly felt any different heading into the first day of practice.
That is, until someone called out his name.
"The guys were all calling me 'Coach Evans,'" he said. "I had to do a double take on that. I realized things were about to be a little different."
***
Coach Evans is a self-described "hands-on coach" at practice.
He loops a whistle around his neck and tucks his schedule into the back of his shorts. He still wears his old Hoosier football cutoff with the No. 62 written on the back—a clear reminder of how new he still is to the coaching staff.
Evans isn't hard to spot out on the field. He works side-by-side with offensive line coach Greg Frey at practice doing anything and everything he can to help out.
"I love having him out there with me," Frey said. "I just think in his heart he's open to do whatever helps this program, and that's what I love about him."
Evans' role isn't quite defined, Frey said. It's evolving every day.
Evans typically begins practice by briefing with the offensive line. He'll set up position drills and join Frey in giving players daily instruction.
During scrimmages, he'll walk up and down the sidelines barking out orders and correcting his former teammates' mistakes.
Evans is two full weeks into his coaching career, but some of his teammates are still adjusting a little slower than he did.
"It's definitely weird seeing him in coaches' stuff," junior Dan Feeney said. "But I feel he's made the transition good, and he's excited to be doing what he's doing. He takes a lot of pride in it, and we love that about him."
Evans' greatest strength is his relationship with the players, Frey said. They sympathize with one another.
Frey said Evans has an uncanny ability to relate to anyone on the team and cheer them up.
It's the little things that stand out to Frey, like Evans' ability to draw a laugh out of a freshman who's having a bad day or his positivity even in a dark moment.
"He just cares so much about his teammates," Frey said. "It's a passion thing. It's a connection thing. It's being able to share his experiences and maybe bring a smile to a freshman that's maybe missing home…
"It's invaluable. You can't teach that. That's just Ralston."
***
There's no hint of regret in Evans' voice when he talks about his transition to the sidelines.
He's gotten a lot out of football he says. The sport changed his life.
"I wouldn't be here without football," Evans said. "I'm really just thankful for all the opportunities I've had."
Evans made 21 starts and appeared in 22 games for the Hoosiers in three active seasons. He only missed three games over the last two years while playing on an offensive line that laid the groundwork for one of the nation's best passing attacks one year and an All-American rusher the next.
At the football team's banquet last season, Evans was presented the Harold Mauro "Loyalty to IU Football" Award for his dedication to the program.
Evans called it one of the proudest moments of his life.
"Ralston's a very unique kid," Wilson said. "He was a tremendous player for us. He's doing a great job this year. He's going to have a huge impact, and he's the type of kid who's going to have a huge impact on a lot of things in life. He's a pretty blessed kid."
Evans admitted he still doesn't know how he'll respond to not wearing a jersey on game day. It's something he said he'll have to get used to.
Coach Evans has high hopes for the upcoming year. He's holding his players to a high standard and expects nothing short of the best when Indiana kicks off a new season Sept. 5 against Southern Illinois.
"I think my guys are doing well," Evans said. "We made a lot of strength gains during the summer. We've got seven guys benching 400 plus pounds, so that's big for us. I've been really proud of the way Dimitric Camiel stepped up, as well as Wes Martin. We've got a deep group, so I really believe the sky is the limit as long as we stay healthy and stick to our fundamentals."
Spoken like a true coach.
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