Volleyball | 7/9/2026 12:59:00 PM

DENTON, Texas (July 9, 2026) – A proven leader, accomplished champion, an inspiring coach and now, a Pioneer.

The Texas Woman's Athletic Department has hired Phil Evans as the next leader of TWU Volleyball.

"I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Phil Evans to the team at such a pivotal moment in the growth of TWU Athletics," said Executive Director of Athletics Sandee Mott. "Phil brings an incredible wealth of expertise and a fresh, innovative perspective that aligns perfectly with our vision for the future. From our very first conversation, it was clear that his energy, passion and proven track record of success would make an immediate impact. I'm excited to see how Phil helps us push boundaries and accelerate our momentum."

Evans joins the Pioneers after most recently serving as the Recruiting Coordinator and First Assistant at Howard University. During his four seasons with the Bison, Evans, who specifically worked with the offensive attack, helped lead Howard to two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Regular Season Titles. He guided the team to three straight years as the most efficient offense in the MEAC. In 2023, Howard boasted their first ever appearance in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC). Most recently, during the 2025 season, Evans assisted in strategizing, match-planning and coaching, which led to the Bison sweeping two NCAA Tournament teams – Amercian University and High Point University.

During his time with the Bison, Evans oversaw film and scouting, which assisted in guiding the team to consistent success. Off the court, Evans also managed the team's budget and expenses, overseeing proper travel organization and effective fulfillment of the team's procurement needs. 

From a player development standpoint, Evans boasts a strong track record of individual player growth. During his time at Howard, he assisted in developing the three-time Conference Player of the Year and All-America Honorable Mention honoree. Furthermore, he coached and orchestrated the setter training program for three MEAC Setters of the Year, with one student-athlete winning the award twice. From those Setters of the Year, they both reached all-time top five assists records in a season. Evans also assisted in coaching 17 All-MEAC players while with the Bison.

"I'm incredibly excited and honored to join Texas Woman's University as the next Head Volleyball Coach," Evans said. "I want to sincerely thank Sandee Mott and the search committee for believing in me and trusting me with the opportunity to lead this program. I'm also deeply grateful to my family, mentors, colleagues and every player I've had the privilege to coach for helping shape me into the coach and leader I am today. Every stop along my journey has prepared me for this opportunity, and I'm grateful for the experiences that have led me here. I can't wait to get to work, build meaningful relationships and represent Pioneer Volleyball with pride. Go Pioneers!"

While at Howard, Evans also served as the Director of the Howard Volleyball Manager Program. In this role, he hired, trained and scheduled 10-15 student workers annually to support the overall success of the volleyball program. Evans additionally served as the Director and Lead Coach of Howard Volleyball Camps, leading programming for two camps per year averaging around 70 athletes.

To support the growth of Howard Volleyball and its overall national reputation, Evans lead marketing and social media efforts for the Bison. He created the inaugural season ticket program for Bison volleyball and developed theme nights to increase attendance at home matches. His efforts led to the first match with over 1,000 attendees in five years and the highest overall season attendance in five years. Evans also spearheaded ideas and efforts for the Howard Volleyball social media accounts, elevating their accounts to the top HBCU volleyball account in the country and the second-most followed Instagram team account at Howard. Over his four seasons with the Bison, engagement, views and followers grew each and every year. As Evans closes his chapter at Howard, he helped the Bison reach 16,000 followers on Instagram.
Evans additionally took time to increase his experience in a professional setting for volleyball, as he served on the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Assistant Coaches Committee as the MEAC Chair. Additionally, he shared his knowledge by presenting at the annual AVCA convention on a panel.

Prior to his time at Howard, Evans worked as the Assistant Coach at Xavier University of Louisiana. In his two seasons, he helped guide the team to back-to-back Red River Athletic Conference Titles, and he coached seven NAIA Conference First Team honorees. While at XULA, Evans also oversaw film and scouting to guide the team to continued success.

Evans began his collegiate coaching experience while pursuing his undergraduate degree at Mississippi State University. There, he served as a Volunteer Assistant for volleyball for one season and the Assistant Video Coordinator for basketball for four seasons.
Outside of collegiate coaching, Evans also brings experience leading at the club level to TWU. He worked as the Nola Volleyball Club 16-1's Girls Head Coach for one season. Additionally, he led Louisiana State University Volleyball Camps in 2021, and, in 2023, served as a Clinic Coach with the USA Volleyball National Team Development Program.

Evans has been named on the Advancement of Blacks in Sports (ABIS) Coaches Watchlist twice, and he received the AVCA TEAM Award in 2020 – an annual award given to young minority coaches who have proven their drive and passion for the sport volleyball. Furthermore, he was recognized as the Volleydictorian, given to the top of the 2020 TEAM Award Class.

Evans takes over as the leader of a Pioneer volleyball team that qualified for the Lone Star Conference tournament for three straight seasons and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2024.

"I want to sincerely thank Coach Jessica Ransom for her hard work and dedication during her time as a Pioneer," Mott said. "We wish her the very best in all future endeavors."