An Honor to Nancy Evans: Ole Miss Softball Unveils the Statue of Award-Winning Assistant Coach Nancy Evans…

A Legendary Career on the Mound

Nancy Evans’ name is synonymous with excellence in softball. During her collegiate career at the University of Arizona from 1994 to 1998, she cemented her place as one of the greatest pitchers in NCAA history. With a career record of 124-8, Evans holds the NCAA record for the highest career winning percentage at .939. Her 0.98 career ERA, three national championships (1994, 1996, 1997), and the 1998 Honda Sports Award as National Player of the Year underscore her dominance. Named the 1997 NCAA College World Series Most Outstanding Player, a two-time First-Team All-American, and a four-time All-Pac-10 honoree, Evans was a force both in the circle and at the plate, where she also excelled as a versatile position player. In 2016, she was named to the Pac-12 All-Century Team, and in 2022, NCAA.com recognized her as one of the 11 best pitchers in collegiate softball history.

Beyond her athletic prowess, Evans was a standout in the classroom, earning First-Team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors twice and being named the 1998 Academic All-America Team Member of the Year. Her jersey number 13 was retired by Arizona in 2002, and she was inducted into the University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame that same year, a testament to her enduring impact.

A Coaching Career of Equal Distinction

Evans’ transition to coaching was seamless, as she brought her competitive fire and strategic acumen to programs around the world. After serving as an assistant coach at Arizona from 1999 to 2007, where she helped guide the Wildcats to three more national championships (2001, 2006, 2007), Evans coached internationally with the Dutch and Italian National Teams. She led the Dutch team to their first European Championship title in 19 years and helped the Italian team secure a third-place finish at the 2022 European Championships.

In October 2023, Evans joined the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) as pitching coach, bringing her Hall of Fame experience to the Flames’ roster. Less than a year later, in June 2024, Ole Miss head coach Jamie Trachsel announced Evans’ addition to the Rebels’ staff as pitching coach, a move that signaled the program’s ambition to compete at the highest level.

Transforming Ole Miss Softball

Since joining Ole Miss, Evans has been instrumental in the team’s historic 2024-2025 season. Under her guidance, the pitching staff set a program record for strikeouts (385), and freshman Miali Guachino earned D1Softball Freshman All-American honors. The Rebels, coached by Trachsel, Evans, Ehren Earleywine, and Bobby Buchanan, achieved a 42-21 record, won the program’s first-ever Super Regional title, and secured a berth in the Women’s College World Series. This remarkable season earned the coaching staff the ATEC/NFCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year award, marking only the second time Ole Miss has received this honor.

Evans’ ability to develop talent was evident in the individual performances of players like Aliyah Binford and Persy Llamas, who set a single-season RBI record with 55, and the team’s overall resurgence in offensive and defensive categories. The Rebels also recorded the most NFCA All-South Region and All-SEC First or Second Team honorees in program history, a testament to the coaching staff’s impact.

A Legacy Worthy of Commemoration

While no statue unveiling is documented in the provided sources, the idea of honoring Nancy Evans with such a tribute aligns with her monumental contributions to softball. Her journey from a shy, self-described tomboy in Glendale, California, to a global softball icon is a story of resilience, talent, and leadership. Her academic achievements, international coaching success, and transformative impact at Ole Miss make her a role model for student-athletes and coaches alike.

Evans’ accolades extend beyond the field. She competed professionally from 1998 to 2005, earning three All-Star selections in the National Pro Fastpitch league and the MVP award at the 2004 All-Star Game. Her work with the Italian National Team, ranked No. 8 in the world, has qualified them for the 2024 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals. These accomplishments, combined with her induction into multiple halls of fame, highlight why Evans is a figure deserving of celebration.