2025 Blue KC Coaches With Character Honoree Chris Evans
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) and the “C” You in the Major Leagues (CYITML) Foundation have announced Lincoln College Preparatory Academy Baseball Coach Chris Evans as the Blue KC Coaches with Character honoree for the month of September.
Evans has always been passionate and driven to mentor and instill confidence in student-athletes on the diamond. In 2011, he founded the Kansas City Kings T-ball team and expanded the program to compete at a high level. Once his original players reached high school, he transitioned to become the head baseball coach, where he’s preparing to enter his third season at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy.
“One of my proudest accomplishments was leading a team of 12 African American boys to compete in the prestigious Cooperstown Dreams Park tournament,” said Evans. “The journey was a true community effort, requiring over $30,000 in fundraising, and it provided our young athletes the chance to see life beyond urban Kansas City, while instilling in them the value of community, teamwork, and camaraderie.”
Evans established the ‘I Am King’ foundation, which is an organization dedicated to mentoring young boys into capable young men. This type of development has always been a passion of Evans in the hopes of building the next generation of strong community leaders. While at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, Evans prides himself on ensuring his student-athletes excel in the classroom, as well as the baseball field.
“I value coaching scholar-athletes because they embody the ideal balance of intellect and the real-world lessons gained through the game of baseball,” said Evans. “This past season, three of our players scored in the top 5% nationwide on the ACT.”
His father, Carl Evans, taught him that the most important part of baseball is to have fun and recognize that every player learns the game differently. As a coach, his role is to find new, fun, and unique ways to inspire his players and put them in positions to make the correct ‘plays’ both on and off the diamond.
“To me, organization, discipline, and confidence are the keys to being a successful coach,” said Evans. “Confidence is built through hard work and repetition, which is why our practices are intense and purposeful. By preparing at the highest level, our players can step into games with confidence, which then allows the actual competition to become the fun part.”
While coaching, Evans teaches his players that ‘the way they do anything, is the way they do everything’. With the game of baseball being filled with subjectivity and challenges, he carefully works with those on the team to respond favorably to adversity because that ultimately shapes the kind of person they become away from the diamond.
“Teaching players to set goals and uphold high standards creates a blueprint for a successful life,” said Evans. “Challenges are inevitable, but the ability to remain steadfast and maintain a strong work ethic equips them with the tools to live a life of purpose.”
“Coach Chris embodies the phrase ‘lead from the front’, as he takes no days off in showing, through his actions, the values and characteristics (such as leadership, duty, responsibility, timeliness, courage, discipline and perseverance) that our young athletes should exemplify,” said Evans’ nominator, Zac Schaefer. “Coach Chris continues to build the young men on our baseball team, but goes above and beyond through his endeavors off the field. Our team has grown not just in the win column, but also in camaraderie and as young adults.”
“Chris’ lifelong commitment to coaching and enhancing the lives of the youth in our community is an outstanding achievement that doesn’t go unnoticed,” said Jenny Housley, Blue KC Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer. “His passion to serving as a coach and role model to strengthen the next generation of young men is a true testament to his character. We’re honored to highlight his successes and know his future is bright.”
“It’s an honor, a privilege, and a blessing to be counted amongst the other coaches who have received this distinguished honor,” said Evans. “As a coach, my goal is to develop men of consequence. This recognition is a reminder that I am working in the right direction.”
Blue KC Coaches with Character recipients are honored monthly at Kauffman Stadium during Kansas City Royals home games, and fans are encouraged to nominate high school coaches who are making a positive impact on their schools and communities by using the form online at https://www.BlueKC.com/NominateCoachesWithCharacter.
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Blue KC Coaches With Character
