June Evans

Evans was an employee of the Calhoun County school system for more than 30 years. She spent most of that time teaching and coaching at Wellborn. When Evans began working as a physical education teacher, there were no athletic programs for girls. In the 1977-78 school year she started Wellborn’s indoor track program. Her runners practiced in the hallways of the main academic building after the school day ended.

At that time, the Alabama High School Athletic Association had four classifications. Every school below Class 4A competed in the same state meet. Evans’ first indoor track team returned from Montgomery as the 1A-2A-3A state champion.

In the fall of 1979, Evans became Wellborn’s first-year volleyball coach. Five years later Evans led the Panthers to the Class 5A state volleyball championship. At the state tournament, Wellborn (33-2) didn’t lose a game. Evans won the state title with a team that had only two seniors.

Wellborn (32-2) was undefeated entering the 1985 state volleyball tournament but lost twice in the championship bracket final.

In softball, Wellborn’s breakthrough season came in 1988 when the Panthers (32-10) made their first appearance in the state tournament. In 1989, injuries and defensive lapses led to a quick exit from the state tournament. Averaging 12 runs a game entering the tournament, the Panthers (29-4) lost 13-3 and 13-1.

Evans had Wellborn back in the Class 5A state tournament in 1994. The Panthers struggled to hit and finished 37-14. With just one senior on the roster, Wellborn was 44-11 in 1995. Evans’ 1996 team established a school record for wins at 49-15. She was the choice of the coaches for Calhoun County’s 4A-6A coach of the year. In 2009, Wellborn named its softball field for Evans.

Written By Rip Donovan, Star Sports Correspondent, ripdonovan@gmail.com