University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame
John C. Evans Special Inductee - Coach
A 1973 UVM Hall of Fame inductee and the original dean of Vermont basketball coaches, John C. 'Fuzzy' Evans coached basketball for record 23 years at Vermont and carved out a excellent record of 261-195 from 1940-65. His 261 wins stood as the UVM record for 40 years until topped by Tom Brennan.
A graduate of Illinois (1932), where he was a star basketball and football player, he led Vermont to eight consecutive state titles, including 30 straight victories at one stretch. His 1946-47 basketball team, led by UVM Hall of Famer, Larry Killick and Bob Jake, reeled off 19 wins losing only three. The 19 wins represented the most victories by any Catamount basketball team until 2002.
Evans was named to the College Basketball Helms of Fame in 1965 and in the same year was awarded the Walter Brown Memorial Trophy for his contribution to New England basketball. Milestones in Evans' career include his 100th win, a 58-47 triumph of Maine in 1950 and his 250th win in his last year of coaching.
The 'Senator', affectionately known to many of his fellow coaches and friends, had coached more consecutive years (23) at one school than any other active coach in New England at the time of his retirement, and only one other coach, the late Doggie Julian of Dartmouth, had more wins. In addition, the popular sports figure coached varsity football from 1940-1951 and led the freshman baseball team for many years.
His roommate at Illinois was James Reston of the New York Times and one of the most respected journalists in the world while he was a football teammate of the Illini's legendary back, Red Grange. Evans was also a teacher at UVM.
