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Danny Evans enters his seventh season as a member of the Gonzaga University coaching staff and his first since being promoted to associate head coach in October, 2009. Evans serves as the Bulldogs recruiting coordinator, third base coach and infield coach. During Evans' tenure the Zags have averaged 30 wins each season, including posting 30-win seasons in each of the past three years. The 2009 season capped the three consecutive 30-win season streak, finishing the year with 36 wins which brought the Bulldogs its inaugural West Coast Conference regular-season and WCC Championship Series titles along with the program's eighth trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Zags went on to finish the season ranked No. 22 in the Baseball America final season rankings. With Evans leading Gonzaga's charge on the recruiting trail, the Zags have put together a couple of very impressive recruiting classes. This season's group of newcomers was featured in Baseball America as one of nation's top recruiting classes. The Bulldogs were again in the national spotlight this past recruiting season as they signed two of the nation's Top 100 high school prospects in addition to signing the top pitching prospect out of Colorado. Under Evans' assistance, 13 Bulldogs have been drafted by Major League Baseball including a program-best five players taken in the 2009 MLB draft, 33 players have earned All-WCC honors, three players have received All-America honors and two players earned Freshmen All-America accolades. Evans has overseen the development of a number of former Bulldogs who are currently in the professional ranks led by Darin Holcomb and Scott Campbell, both of which were top 15 round draft picks. Holcomb was named the 2008 MVP of the Low-A South Atlantic League and Campbell participated in the Major League Baseball's Futures game after being one of the top hitters in the Double-A Eastern League. The Bulldogs have routinely finished among the nation's elite in fielding over the past six seasons. The 2007 and 2009 clubs each posted .971 fielding percentages, placing them near the top spots in both the WCC and in the country. Last season saw the Zags commit the second fewest errors in the WCC which followed a 2008 campaign that had Gonzaga post the second highest fielding percentage in the WCC at .967. In addition to finishing 30th in the nation in defense in the 2007 season, that year also had the Zags field at a .980 clip during league play to rank first in the WCC. In 2006, Gonzaga posted a .976 fielding percentage, setting a program best along with a new WCC best and placing the Bulldogs seventh in the nation in defense. In 2005, the Bulldogs fielded at a .972 clip to rank second in the league and 13th in the nation. A 2003 graduate of Gonzaga, Evans was a 4-year letterwinner for the Bulldogs appearing in 162 games over his career. Evans alternated between shortstop and third base during his career and capped his senior season with a second team All-West Coast Conference honor. In August of 2007, the native of Glendale, Ariz., married the former Kellie Buller, also a Gonzaga graduate. |
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