Pius X Coach Takes Over Basketball Post at Verbum Dei

When Pius X announced it was soon changing to become an all-girls school, boys basketball coach Deon Evans started exploring other job opportunities.

Evans, 32, found an opening with rival Verbum Dei and was hired this week as the new boys basketball coach for the parochial school. He succeeds two-time City Times Coach of the Year Mike Kearney, who resigned for personal reasons.

School principal Deacon Marvin Threatt is on vacation and could not be reached for comment.

Said school athletic director Vernon Maxwell: “We feel like Deon is a great coach and will do well with the team. I think he is a disciplinarian and academic person. He will work with the students and help them get in to college.”

Last season, Evans’ Pius X team lost twice to the Eagles in Camino Real League play. Verbum Dei compiled a 26-5 overall record, won its second consecutive Southern Section Division IV-A championship and its first state championship. The Eagles beat San Bruno Capuchino, 60-59, to win the State Division IV.

In six seasons, the Eagles compiled a 74-14 record under Kearney.

“One thing I want to do is to continue the long success of Verbum Dei,” Evans said. “In some cases, we want to even upgrade it in any needed areas.”

Evans has worked nine years at Pius X, including the last two as the school’s varsity basketball coach. He compiled a 30-21 record in two seasons, including 18-8 in 1995. Pius X finished second behind Verbum Dei in the Camino Real League. The Warriors reached the Southern Section Division IV-A semifinals, losing to Serra, 55-53.

From 1988 to 1990, Evans worked at his alma mater Serra of Gardena. He was an assistant basketball coach under Dwan Hurt and a varsity track coach.