By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Michael Evans walks away after five years as Bishop LeBlond's athletic director feeling nostalgic, but confident.
Confident that Eagle athletics are on solid ground moving forward.
"I am leaving on great terms with Bishop LeBlond," Evans said, as his resignation was made public on social media Wednesday. "I am a supporter 100 percent. I'll pry be at more athletic events than I think I will be at. I support all of the coaches and players. You know, so I'll definitely be around and definitely be present in the Catholic community and definitely Bishop LeBlond."
Evans is getting out of athletics and education to pursue a business opportunity with Cintas Uniform Services in St. Joseph.
Having welcomed his fourth child about six months ago, and with his older children now playing sports of their own, Evans didn't want to miss out on those moments.
"You know, there's nothing like your kids," he said. "You're never going to get that time back. I was really missing out on that, and that was starting to wear on me. That was really when it started to fester that maybe it's time to change career paths."
Evans leaves LeBlond on a high note, as he oversaw one of the best five-year periods in school history from an athletic standpoint.
The Eagles won six state titles from 2017-2021, including three in boys' golf, two in dance and one in boys' soccer. Add to that six individual state champions, 18 combined Final Four finishes for teams and individuals, 19 district championships and seven conference titles.
"At the end of the day, it just goes back to those coaches and players," Evans said. "They're the ones who truly went out there and did it and went out there and won all of those games and won all of those titles. I was just happy to be a part of it and do my part to hopefully build that culture."
Walking away from something so successful is never an easy decision, and this one weighed on Evans for at least a few months.
There are things he'll miss, but Evans looks forward to more time at home, more time at his kids' games and more time as just a spectator at a LeBlond games - still cheering on his Eagle family.
"You know, it really is a family," he said. "Whether that be alumni or current students or parents or just supporters, we really are a family. It's a smaller school."
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