NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State University Athletics Director Marty Miller announced Tuesday that assistant men's basketball coach Anthony Evans has been appointed interim head coach for the 2007-08 season.

Evans and new NSU women's basketball coach Tara Owens will be introduced at a press conference at 3 p.m. on Friday, Apr. 20, in the President's Conference Room in Harrison B. Wilson Hall.

Miller also announced Tuesday that Lonnie Blow, who also served as an assistant coach last season, will remain with the program in the same capacity.

Evans, 37, has served as an assistant coach at NSU for the past four seasons. He has been instrumental in the daily operations of the program, including recruiting, scouting opponents and player development. Evans recruited several of the Spartans' top players, including guard Corey Lyons (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and two-time All-MEAC guard Tony Murphy (Paterson, N.J.).

"I felt that I needed additional time before making a final decision on our men's basketball coach," Miller said. "I didn't want to rush the process because this decision is critical for the future of the athletics program.

"In addition, I have been very pleased with coach Evans' leadership. He has done an excellent job recruiting and forming our schedule for the upcoming season. I feel he's very capable of leading the program, and he deserves this opportunity."

Evans, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., was formerly the head coach at Delhi Tech (SUNY-Delhi) in Delhi, N.Y., from 2001-03. His teams went 62-8, including two Region III titles and appearances in the National Junior College Association Division III tournament. He was District I Coach of the Year twice, and Region III Coach of the Year in 2002. His teams at Delhi garnered a No. 1 national ranking at one point during both of his years there.

Evans also coached at Ulster County Community College in Kingston, N.Y., for two seasons before his stint at Delhi. At Ulster, Evans' team went 23-8 and was the Region XV runner-up in 2001, when he was named the region's Coach of the Year.

"I want to thank Mr. Miller and the University for giving me this opportunity," Evans said. "We have a great group of young men returning next season, and with the addition of the right recruits, we can be very competitive."

Evans earned his bachelor's degree in marketing from St. Thomas Aquinas in 1994. He played guard for Aquinas, also known as the Spartans.

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