SEELEY LAKE - Dave Evans has been a member of the Seeley Lake community for 47 years, first visiting in 1974 before fully settling down in 1988. After starting coaching in 1999, Evans spent more than 20 years training athletes and inspiring them to work hard and become successful people. He retired before this year’s Seeley-Swan High School basketball season.
Evans coaching career began for the Seeley Lake Elementary Eagles in 1999 starting with basketball and football. This helped transition Evans into coaching at Seeley-Swan High School in 2001 where he was the offensive coordinator for the football team until 2011.
During that time, Evans found himself wanting to get involved again with basketball, this time at the high school. In the 2004-2005 season Evans became the C squad boys’ basketball coach for the Blackhawks, back when the high school was still Class B. In 2009, the Blackhawks dropped down to Class C where they still remain today with Evans taking over the junior varsity coach position.
In 2012, Evans returned to SLE to help coach the Eagles to an undefeated flag football season and continued to coach the Eagles until 2015.
Evans mindset was to coach his athletes to hang in there after tough loses, to pick themselves up and get back at it, use the motivation and learn from their mistakes in order to get better.
Evans was able to coach and lead numerous Seeley Lake athletes. Like most small towns, Evans had the privilege to help coach his two sons Zach and Shawn while they played sports for the Blackhawks.
“You have to be patient. You get the kids when they are young and you watch them turn into young men”, said Evans.
“Encouraging work ethic and bringing a team together” are the things that come to mind for Brad Miller, a former player for Evans. “Coach Evans taught us how to become good people along with playing the game of basketball,” said Miller.
Evans cherished the memories and the special moments with the athletes just as much as the games. All the time spent with the athletes between practice, bus rides and the games all add up in a season and was something Evans enjoyed.
When asked what was the biggest reward while coaching, Evans said, “seeing the kids grow up. Seeing them be successful.”
Evans ran Video Vision, the local video rental store that opened in 1991 and operated until its closing in 2013. He always enjoyed when former players would come in.
“It was always nice to see former players and hear how they are doing after graduating,” he said.
Evans felt it was time to step down after coaching football for 11 years and basketball another 15 for the Blackhawks. The struggles of Covid-19 also factored into his decision along with feeling good about who had replaced him. Jacob Haley stepped in as the SSHS assistant boys basketball coach at the beginning of the 2020-2021 season.
Evans’ lasting impact on Seeley Lake sports and the many athletes he coached over the years will live on long after his coaching days are up.
Evans said, “It was fun and I miss it already.”
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