The Kent Predators have hired Keith Evans to coach the pro Indoor Football League team this season.
Evans coached the Wenatchee Venom of the American Indoor Football Association last year and has coaching experience with several other teams, according to a Jan. 13 Predators media release to announce his signing.
“I have a great loyalty and dedication to football,” Evans said. “In fact, a fierce dedication to sports runs in my family.”
Evans is the son of Lee Evans, who won gold medals in the 400 meters and 4×400 relay at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
“I bring that same commitment and enthusiasm to the Kent Predators,” Evans said. “I look forward to the Predators making a playoff run and being very competitive on the field.”
Kent had a 5-9 record in 2010, did not make the playoffs and drew an average of about 2,000 fans per game.
The Venom fired Evans partway through the 2010 season after the team had lost five straight games, according to the Wenatchee World. The team had a 2-5 record under Evans.
Evans previously worked as an assistant coach with the Tri-Cities Fever when it belonged to the Arena Football 2 league. He coached the Alaska Wild for one game in 2007 when it was in the Intense Football League before the team let him go, according to the Anchorage Daily News. He also was a running back and special teams coach in 2002 with the Puget Sound Jets of the Northwest Football League.
Evans played football at Ingraham High School in Seattle and at Spokane Falls Community College.
The Predators open their second season Feb. 25 against the Sioux Falls Storm at the ShoWare Center.
Indoor Football League officials just approved an ownership change for the Predators last week that kept the team alive for another season. Jeff Scott is the new majority owner as well as the team president and chief executive officer.
Kent had hired Heron O’Neal last fall to coach the Predators in 2011. But O’Neal resigned last month after then-team president Michael Tuckman did not pay him. William McCarthy coached the Predators last season but was not rehired.
For more information, go to www.kentpredators.net or call 253-236-5568.
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