{"id":11214,"date":"2025-09-04T10:41:53","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T15:41:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/?p=11214"},"modified":"2025-09-04T10:44:41","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T15:44:41","slug":"2025-blue-kc-coaches-with-character-honoree-chris-evans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/community-and-culture\/sports-partnerships-community-and-culture\/2025-blue-kc-coaches-with-character-honoree-chris-evans\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Blue KC Coaches With Character Honoree Chris Evans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) and the \u201cC\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s preparing to enter his third season at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of my proudest accomplishments was leading a team of 12 African American boys to compete in the prestigious Cooperstown Dreams Park tournament,\u201d said Evans. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evans established the \u2018I Am King\u2019 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI value coaching scholar-athletes because they embody the ideal balance of intellect and the real-world lessons gained through the game of baseball,\u201d said Evans. \u201cThis past season, three of our players scored in the top 5% nationwide on the ACT.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2018plays\u2019 both on and off the diamond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo me, organization, discipline, and confidence are the keys to being a successful coach,\u201d said Evans. \u201cConfidence 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While coaching, Evans teaches his players that \u2018the way they do anything, is the way they do everything\u2019. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n

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KANSAS CITY, MO – September 2: Photo from a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Los Angeles Angels Tuesday, September 2 2025, in Kansas City, MO (Photo by Amy Kontras\/ Kansas City Royals)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cTeaching players to set goals and uphold high standards creates a blueprint for a successful life,\u201d said Evans. \u201cChallenges 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCoach Chris embodies the phrase \u2018lead from the front\u2019, 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,\u201d said Evans\u2019 nominator, Zac Schaefer. \u201cCoach 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cChris\u2019 lifelong commitment to coaching and enhancing the lives of the youth in our community is an outstanding achievement that doesn\u2019t go unnoticed,\u201d said Jenny Housley, Blue KC Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer. \u201cHis 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\u2019re honored to highlight his successes and know his future is bright.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an honor, a privilege, and a blessing to be counted amongst the other coaches who have received this distinguished honor,\u201d said Evans. \u201cAs a coach, my goal is to develop men of consequence. This recognition is a reminder that I am working in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Blue KC supports the Kansas City community through impactful sports partnership programs<\/h3>

Blue KC Coaches With Character<\/p> <\/div>\n

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