Researching Paul Evans

Paul Evans was noted for running a "power offense" with emphasis on distributing the ball through centers and power forwards. His tenures at Navy and Pittsburgh was notable for the development of quality big men such as David Robinson, Charles Smith, Jerome Lane, Brian Shorter, Bobby Martin, Darren Morningstar, and Eric Mobley. He coached at Division III St. Lawrence University for seven season guiding them to six ICAC Conference Championships and five NCAA Division III post-season appearances, including two regional finals. He went on to coach at Navy for six seasons and an overall 199–60 (.665) record which included a cinderella appearance in the 1986 Elite Eight led by star center Robinson. After taking over at Pitt starting in the 1986–87 season, he guided the Panthers to regular season Big East Conference titles in 1987 and 1988, several top 10 rankings in the polls (including as high as #2), and saw the team advance to five NCAA tournaments and one NIT. John Calipari was an assistant under Evans at Pitt prior to him obtaining the head coaching position at UMass. Evans' win-loss record at the University of Pittsburgh was 147–98 (.600) over eight seasons. He was succeeded as head coach at Pitt by Ralph Willard.

Evans had a sizeable hit in the UK and Australia in 1978-79 with the morbid country song "Hello, This is Joanie" (as it was titled on the New Zealand pressing released by Polydor Records) or, as it was known on a Spring Records release, "Hello, This is Joannie (The Telephone Answering Machine Song)". In a 2004 interview Evans revealed that the voice of Joannie was provided by country artist Lea Jane Berinati.

Evans also had minor hits with "After the Hurricane" which hit No.2 on April 8, 1961 on Vancouver's CFUN chart, and "Feelin' No Pain" which hit No.23 on Canadian CHUM charts.

Evans came second in the 1996 Great North Run, third in the 1996 London Marathon, and won the 1996 Chicago Marathon at the age of 35. His 2:08:52 in Chicago places him fifth on the UK all-time marathon list. Other achievements include a half-marathon best time of 61:18, and a course record in the premier Swedish 30 km cross country running race Lidingöloppet in 1995.

He is now athletics development officer for Norfolk.

Evans played in Port Adelaide's SANFL junior teams and was a member of the South Australian team that won the Teal Cup in 1995, kicking eight goals in the final against Vic Metro.

Evans was selected by Port Adelaide's AFL team as a zonal selection in the 1996 AFL Draft, forming their inaugural AFL squad for the 1997 season, but did not make any appearances that year.

Evans made his senior AFL debut in 1998, playing six matches. He kicked two goals and four behinds on his league debut, against Fremantle at Football Park.

The following year Evans didn't appear in any AFL games but was full-forward in Port Adelaide's 1999 SANFL premiership and topped the club's goal-kicking that year.

At the end of the 2000 AFL season, without adding any more games to his tally, Evans was delisted by Port Adelaide.

In 2001, Evans joined Robinvale in the Sunraysia Football League, as playing coach. He was the league's leading goal-kicker in the 2001 season, with 119 goals.

After another season with Robinvale in 2002, Evans returned to the SANFL and continued his career at Port Adelaide. He topped Port's goal-kicking in 2003 and 2004.