FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
SPOKANE, Wash. (Oct. 13, 2009 – www.gozags.com) – Gonzaga University head baseball coach Mark Machtolf has announced the promotion of Danny Evans to associate head coach.
“Danny has been a huge part of our success in the past few years,” stated Machtolf. “He is very deserving of the promotion as he continues to head our recruiting efforts along with making us one of the best defensive teams in the country year in and year out.”
Evans has served on Machtolf’s coaching staff the past six seasons, serving as the Bulldogs recruiting coordinator, infield coach and third base coach. During Evans’ tenure the Zags have averaged 30 wins a season, including posting 30-win seasons in each of the past three years. The 2009 season capped the three consecutive 30-win season streak, finishing the year with 36 wins which brought the Bulldogs its inaugural West Coast Conference regular season and WCC Championship Series titles along with the program’s eighth trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Zags went on to finish the season ranked as high as No. 22 in Baseball America’s final season rankings.
Also during Evans tenure, prior to the 2009 season the Bulldogs incoming class was featured in and ranked by Baseball America as one of nation’s top recruiting classes. Under Evan’s assistance; 13 Bulldogs have been drafted by Major League Baseball including a program-best five players taken in this past June’s MLB draft, 33 players have earned All-WCC honors, and three players have received an All-America honor.
The Bulldogs defense has continued to improve over the past six seasons as the Zags have consistently finished among the leaders in the WCC in fielding percentage, highlighted by the .971 fielding percentages by the 2007 and 2009 clubs which each placed them as one of the top defensive teams in the country.
A 2003 graduate of Gonzaga, Evans was a 4-year letterwinner for the Bulldogs appearing in 162 games over his career. Evans alternated between shortstop and third base during his career and capped his senior season with a second team All-West Coast Conference honor.
“I am very proud of Danny and all that he has accomplished in his career at Gonzaga,” commented Machtolf. “He has one of the best baseball minds in the country and is a great motivator. I look forward to Danny being a huge part of our program for years to come.”
