Jared EvansA key member of the Augsburg teams that won national titles in 2004-05 and 2006-07, Evans was a three-time NCAA All-American wrestler for the Auggies, compiling a 139-37 record as a 149 pounder. Evans also earned National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-America honors in his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. He was named co-Honor Athlete in 2007, the highest honor Augsburg gives its senior student-athletes for accomplishment, leadership and character on the playing field and in the classroom.
Now Evans will be working on the high school level as instructor and coach in Menomonie, located between his two college "homes" of Eau Claire and Minneapolis. Even though he will be in familiar territory in terms of geography, Evans admitted in an interview with Chippewa.com that the career shift has its challenges… but expects it to be ultimately rewarding.
"It was one of the hardest decisions that I've ever made," Evans said. "I thought I wanted to be a college wrestling coach for the rest of my life."
"There's a different sense of community at the high school level and with the coach-athlete relationship," Evans said. "At the college level, a lot of these guys are in their first couple years away from home and there's a lot of free reign there. I look forward to working with parents on a closer level, and working with these guys on a closer level."
Evans is already on his way, serving as a paraeducator in the district as he works towards getting his teaching license, and helping with the strength and conditioning program at the high school.
"I'm super pumped about it," Evans said. "Working with them in the weight room before the season to establish those relationships right from the get-go. It's so important to be able to do that early on. Get to know each other just so we can build that rapport and that trust and that comradery just so that we can hit the ground running as soon as the season starts."
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