Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Independence hires Joe Evans as new football coach

Independence High has entrusted its stellar program to former offensive coordinator Joe Evans, who will gain his first high school football head coaching experience in one of the state's most high profile locations.

Independence has won seven state championships since the 2000 season, made eight state finals and 10 N.C. Western Regional championship, or state semifinal appearances.

Evans, 32, replaces Bill Geiler, who is retiring. Geiler led the Patriots to a 15-0 season and a state title in 2004.

Either Geiler or Tom Knotts has coached the Patriots since the 2000 season began.

"We had to make sure we found the right person," Independence athletics director Kelly Lewis said, "and we feel like Joe will keep us going in the direction we're headed."

Get more on this breaking story throughout the day at charlotteobserver.com/preps

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Where were they before 2000? Stellar??? Only for a decade....now where are they?

Anonymous said...

Indy has the talent to compete for a state title in 2013. They have lost six games or so the last two years with four being to Butler. The program continues to improve after getting hit hard on the redistricting with the opening of Rocky River HS.

Anonymous said...

A high school football team has an offensive coordinator? Do they also have special teams coach?

Anonymous said...

yes, 12:37, they do. Do you think one guy coaches everything?

Anonymous said...

Actually 12:37, I think it depends on the schools resources and football legacy. I'm sure you would find some small and/or poorer schools where one guy does coach everything. Then others might have O and D coordinators and maybe even a position coaches.

Anonymous said...

Pretty much every 4A or 4AA school in North Carolina has an offensive coordinator, a defensive coordinator, and position coaches. It has been that way since in the late 90s...and probably before then. Everyone isn't paid though.

Anonymous said...

This team is the state title favorite make no mistake, going to be an interesting season to watch

Anonymous said...

Go Big I!!!!!

-Independence HS Alumni

Anonymous said...

I doubt there is a high school in the state that only one has coach for a football team. Some small 1A schools have more coaches than some of the largest 4A coaches.

I do not think there would be enough time in the day for one coach to handle everything involved with high school football today with all the documentation and regulations that must be met.

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm....state power? Not in the last few years,plus everything runs through butler,so indy needs to beat the dogs if they want to compete for a state championship.The big i needs a dot on the top to be considered a contender!

Anonymous said...

A decade of hard recruiting and breaking every rule in the NCHSAA rule book is what won 7 titles. Remember the players who were living with total strangers a few years back? The players living out of district...etc...

Anonymous said...

Anon 12:37....I played 2A football in Raleigh in the late 90's. We had a head coach who played at penn state and for the ny giants, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special teams coach, another coach who taught wide receiver and defensive backs, an offensive line coach who played at nc state who doubled as a defensive line coach, and a special teams coach. Sounds crazy looking back on it but high schools are competitive. Just about every one of our coaches played in college. This isn't pop warner, a lot of players are looking for college scholarships....

Anonymous said...

I think all but one starter on the 2000 and 2001 teams was at Indy when Knotts arrived in 2000.

Anonymous said...

The results are in, regular season is over, time for playoffs. 7 wins 4 lost. I think it was a big mistake to intrust such a program to an untested Coach. A coach with little or no playing time in the game. I heard he did not play college football. He played baseball. If u witness his team this year u would understand why he should not have been the one they intrusted to lead the way. He coaches the special teams, which will most likely will be last in the conference. His team could win the state if he would stay out of the way. In the championship game against Butler every drive was important. He choose too try a forty yard field goal attempt, not bad if your kicker could kick that far. Everyone in the stands knew he could not do it, but the coach did not. The kicker has one field goal on the year and it was less than 20 yards. Coach has the worst special team in the conference and he made that decision. The field goal attempt was centered over the holders head,lost yards and forth down attempt. And that was not the biggest error of the game too many to name. It will take him ten year to learn to coach at that level of play. Good luck to Indy, they have a lot too over come.