In search of the program’s first winning season since 2015-16, the boys basketball team has hired a former Division 1 collegiate player, Evan Jefferson, as its new coach.
Jefferson who played at Jacksonville University said his passion for coaching has ignited since his high school playing career.
“Coaching was something I always wanted to do,” Jefferson said. “I remember back in high school my guidance counselor would meet with us in class, and she would tell me, ‘You need to have a career plan.’ I told her that I was going to be a coach when I got older, and I’ve stuck with it ever since.”
Jefferson began his head coaching career in 2013, taking over as the girls’ varsity coach at Paxon High School in Jacksonville. In 2014-15, he led Paxon to its first girls basketball state championship appearance in school history.
“That [2014-15 team] was player-led; they were a tight-knit group,” Jefferson said. “The mentality of the players was ‘maybe we’re not best friends off the court, but we need to respect each other to succeed.’ I want to see my guys on this team adopt that same mentality.”
After six years at Paxon, Jefferson took a year-long hiatus from coaching before taking over as the girl’s coach at Dublin High School in 2020. In four seasons at Dublin, he led the team to four straight Sweet Sixteen appearances, winning Region 4A Coach of the Year in 2021 and progressing to the Elite Eight in 2022. Jefferson said through his experience coaching girls teams he learned the importance of team chemistry.
“My goal has always been to coach boys, but after taking over some girls teams, I found I kind of liked it; so, I stayed with them for a few years,” Jefferson said. “I’ve learned through coaching that girls are going to listen to what you tell them. If I tell them, ‘I need you to go run through that wall,’ they’re not going to ask how or why. With boys, they tend not to believe in things you say at first; boys teams require a little more trust.”
Athletic director Blair Barksedale was integral in hiring Jefferson. She said Jefferson’s ability to communicate was what got him the position.
“We had a lot of interest in the position so it was a longer process than usual,” Barksdale said. “When coach Jefferson spoke with the athletes, he was able to do it in a very easy and open manner; he spoke to them like it was a normal conversation. Both the players and I agreed he was exactly what we were looking for.”
Senior guard Luke Finley believes Jefferson’s experienced background has allowed him to positively influence both team chemistry and dedication in the pre-season.
“Playing for coach Jefferson in pre-season has helped me and the other players understand what it takes to play at the next level,” Finely said. “I’m excited to play under his coaching style. He treats the team like college players, which has given us better preparation for the season. It’s great to learn from someone who’s played at the collegiate level.”
Jefferson said his biggest goal for the upcoming season is not only to improve the team’s record and performance in the regular season, but also lay the foundations of a culture.
“I’ve been trying to install a workhorse mentality in the team,” Jefferson said. “Nobody’s checking for Midtown right now; we haven’t had a winning record in a long time. I try to express that to the team; If you want respect, you want people to come to see you, you want colleges to come recruit you guys, then you got to work for it, and they’ve been doing a good job of that in the pre-season, so far.”
Under Jefferson’s leadership, the team finished 22-4 in summer and fall league play. Senior guard Dhati Lewis said through new coaching, the team’s expectations have improved.
“As soon as coach Jefferson came in, he gained everyone’s respect through his coaching style,” Lewis said. “Practice and training is way more efficient; he lets us play with more freedom, which has given the team more confidence. We all want to win this season and make the playoffs.”
