Halifax Rainmen Hire Ex-NBA Player Michael Evans
HALIFAX,NS–Well, that didn’t take long.
After the resignation of Les Berry on Monday, Rainmen president and CEO, Andre Levingston wasted no time to find his replacement head coach. Former NBA player, assistant coach and scout, Michael Evans, will take over the head coaching duties for the Halifax Rainmen. Evans first entered into the NBA in the 1978 NBA Draft when he was drafted 21st overall by the Denver Nuggets, the same draft that included notable players: Larry Bird, Reggie Theus, Maurice Cheeks and current Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry head coach, Michael Ray Richardson. He brings over 20 years of professional basketball experience at all levels to the Rainmen, as the team makes moves towards a PBL championship.
As an NBA player, Michael Evans was known to be a great three-point shooter and played on multiple NBA teams including the San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Denver Nuggets where he was teammates with NBA Legends, Alex English and Kiki Vandeweghe. He also has 58 games of NBA playoff experience including a Western Conference final in the 1984-85 NBA season, where the Denver Nuggets lost to the “Showtime” Los Angeles Lakers, four games to one.
After his playing career, he was an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets and was later assigned in an interim head coaching role in 2001 when then head coach, Don Issel, was fired. As a NBA interim head coach for Denver, Evans had a 18-38 record. He was later a scout for the Toronto Raptors and was then promoted into the role of assistant coach under Sam Mitchell.
Eric Smith, colour analyst for the Toronto Raptors on Toronto’s FAN 590, who knows Evans through his time with the Raptors, thinks Evans will be a great addition as head coach. “I think this is a great hire for the Rainmen. Mike brings a ton of experience with him and he always came across – to me – as a coach that was not only an educator but a man that could relate to the players as well,” Smith told NPH. “Halifax and the PBL should be thrilled to have Evans and the experience he brings with him as a former NBA player, head coach, assistant coach, and scout.” Evans will make his coaching debut this Saturday in Halifax.
OTHER PBL NEWS:
– The Saint John Mill Rats have signed Boston College alumni and former NBA D-League player, 6’11 centre, Tyrelle Blair
– The Halifax Rainmen play two games at home on the weekend: vs. Saint John on Jan. 29 and vs. Rochester on Jan. 30
– The Quebec Kebs face off against the PBL defending champs, Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry on Jan. 30 in Quebec City
Photo courtesy of the Halifax Rainmen
