tanner evans

east coast sox 2026 marucci co-head coach

Coach Tanner Evans will begin his 4th season with the East Coast Sox.

Tanner Evans was added as the Owls Baseball first-ever full-time assistant coach in 2023-24. Evans played two seasons (2022 & 2023) for the Owls, under Head Coach Scott Mularz, distinguishing himself both on the diamond and in the classroom.

Evans demonstrated that maturity as a starter on MUW’s infield both of his years in Columbus, all while maintaining the full-time academic responsibilities required of student-athletes and earning national USCAA All-Academic Team accolades. Add in the fact that Evans was able to do those things at a high level - along with all that comes with being married and having two young daughters – and one can see the reason that Mularz was excited about what he added to the Owls’ program.
 
Evans had a career batting average of .274 (54-197), including 15 doubles and five home runs, while driving in 32 runs and scoring 39 more. He drew 27 walks, was hit by a pitch 15 times, had 13 sacrifices, and went 7-for-10 in steals.
 
Evans is a native of Orem, Utah. He came to The W by way of Timpanagos High School and Utah State University Eastern community college.
 
Evans completed his degree in Business Administration from The W in the summer of 2023.
 
Evans, his wife Rebekah, and daughters – Melody and Brielle – reside in Columbus.Coach

Coach Tanner Evans grew up in Orem, Utah. He started playing travel baseball at the age of 7. In high school he was a two time All State Region MVP and helped lead his team to become State Champions.

After high school, Tanner went on a two year church mission. His assignment was to Boston, MA (home of his favorite baseball team) and it was there he felt he started his journey of learning to fully rely on the Lord in all things. His love of Christ only grew once he started college. He went to Utah State University-Eastern and was the starting shortstop his freshman year. Only a few weeks into his sophomore season of college baseball, Tanner was struck by a serious bacteria which caused him to go completely blind in his left eye. It was one of the most trying experiences of his life as he was no longer able to play baseball. It was then that the worlds of baseball, character, and God truly collided. He had to trust Jesus with the things he couldn’t see, physically and spiritually. He felt as though he was forced to confront who he really was and what was most important to him. He had to figure out who he was as a person and not just as a baseball player. The pure reliance on his Savior at that time in his life has shaped his daily considerations and actions to this day.
Through prayer, family support and the support of his college coach, he was able to return to USU-E only a few weeks after going blind; this time as an assistant coach. Tanner coached his heart out for two years. He received a cornea transplant during that time and was miraculously able to regain vision in both eyes. This spurred his decision to continue playing baseball. He played as the starting third baseman for The Mississippi University for Women (MUW) for the last two years of his bachelor’s degree. After graduation he was hired as the full time assistant baseball coach at MUW, where he currently coaches.
Tanner credits his passions and driving force for all he does to Jesus, his wife, three daughters, and baseball.