A coach from a power conference program who guided five teams to the Women’s College World Series and has more than 1,000 wins is taking over the UCSB softball program.
Hall of Famer Jo Evans, who spent the last 26 seasons at Texas A&M, has been hired as the new coach of the Gauchos, Kelly Barsky, interim director of athletics, announced on Thursday.
Evans replaces Brie Galicinao, who was let go after 15 seasons at the helm. She compiled a career record of 343-437 and went 15-39 overall and 6-21 in the Big West this past season.
Texas A&M, a member of the SEC, didn’t renew Evans’ contract after the Aggies were eliminated the first round of the NCAA Tournament in May.
She took the program to the tournament 22 times, including three trips to the Women’s College World Series (2007, ’08, ’17). The Aggies were runners-up in 2008. Her career record at College Station is 987-503-2, a winning percentage of .662.
She also coached at Utah, her alma mater, and guided the Utes to the World Series in 1991 and 1994.
UCSB has made the NCAA Softball Tournament just three times in program history, the last time was in 2007. The Gauchos have never won a tournament game.
Evans aims to turn things around.
“I’m excited to be the head softball coach at Santa Barbara,” she said in a statement. “I want to thank Athletics Director Kelly Barsky for giving me the opportunity to help grow the softball program. I’m most excited to meet my players and get to know them and their families. UCSB is one of the most outstanding public institutions in the country, and I know we will be able to draw great students who are also great softball players.
“Living in Santa Barbara is a dream come true, and I’m looking forward to building great relationships with the community and growing the sport in our area. I can’t wait to get started.”
After serving as an assistant at Florida State in 1984-85, Evans made an impact in her first head coaching job at Colorado State. She turned the program around and led it to a conference co-championship in 1989. She earned Coach of the Year honors in the High Country Conference in 1988 and ’89.
Before Texas A&M moved to the SEC, she was honored as Big 12 Coach of the Year three times (2004, ’05, ’08), and twice won the Western Athletic Conference award at Utah (1991, ’94).
Evans has won 1,300 games as a college coach, ranking her 11th in the NCAA for total career wins. Her overall record is 1,300-714-2.
She was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2015.
Barsky said landing Evans is major boost to the UCSB softball program.
“She is a truly exceptional coach with a demonstrated commitment to the student-athlete experience, service-oriented leadership and extraordinary success on the field,” said Barsky. “This is an exciting time for Gaucho Softball.”
Evans was an All-American and all-conference player at Utah. As a pitcher and second baseman, she helped the Utes to the AIAW World Series in 1982.