On Feb. 5, MTHS school counselor and football coach Mark Evans was announced as an inductee into the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association (PSFCA) Hall of Fame. The organization strives to recognize high school coaches that represent excellence, leadership and commitment to the development of student athletes across the Commonwealth.
“The PSFCA Coaches Hall of Fame represents the very soul of high school football in Pennsylvania,” Garry Cathell, the Executive Director of the PSFCA, told PA Football News. “This year’s inductees devoted their lives to shaping young people, building character, and upholding the values that make our game so meaningful. Their commitment extended far beyond the sidelines and left a lasting imprint on every student-athlete they coached.”
The association is a unified voice for the coaching community, and aims to honor the hard work and dedication of the seven nominated coaches, including Evans.
Evans has been a head coach for 29 years. His overall record is 194-115 and he reached win No. 100 for the Blue Streaks in November 2023. Evans was originally an ice hockey player for the majority of his high school career, and only found football as a senior.
“I decided I was going to play in college. Everybody laughed at me saying, well you can’t even play for the high school team,” Evans said. “But I was like well, just watch me.”
Evans took the criticism as a challenge, and began to play at a junior college in Arizona. After his freshman year, he was offered numerous Division I scholarship opportunities, and went on to play football for the University of Miami. Evans was later invited to play football in Italy for six months.
“It was free, it was a door opening and it’s life changing,” Evans said. “We hear these cliches all the time but I think if there is a will there is a way, and I have always been like that with my players.”
In 1993, Evans finished his masters degree at Shippensburg University and started a school counseling job at Cedar Crest High School, while coaching at Lebanon Valley College. According to Evans, LVC head coach Jim Monos was extremely influential in his coaching journey, teaching him it’s not all about “the X’s and the O’s.”
In 1997, Evans was offered a position as Eastern Lebanon County High School’s offense coordinator, and became the head coach a year later. He coached there for 14 years before becoming Manheim Township’s head coach, finishing his 29th year in 2026.
Evans explained how his counseling job goes hand in hand with his coaching.
“We are ultimately about helping people on their journey, and that’s what a coach does. It’s all about opportunities beyond high school,” he said.
Evans continued to explain this idea when it comes to his athletes.
“I’m constantly looking for ways to help them move on, to be better humans. Discipline equals love,” he said. “Everybody wants discipline and everybody needs to know where the boundaries are, and I think that’s something football gives you.”
Evans’ work ethic and motivation is one of the primary reasons for his induction into the PSFCA Hall of Fame. Evans’ desire to instill this motivation in his athletes is believed to be a part of his success as a coach.
“I motivate [my athletes] everyday and find ways to inspire them. I think that’s something I spend a lot of time doing – motivational stuff in the locker room, before practice before games…I think it’s about character development.” Evans said. “I don’t consider us having rules; we have standards, and we’re trying to live up to those standards.”
He emphasizes how he “pushes” his athletes, and even though he is hard on them, it comes from a place of love and desire to build a strong relationship.
Senior football player Brady McCracken gave some insight on Evans’ coaching methods, explaining the relationship he has built with him over his high school career.
“There are so many moments that coach has impacted my life since I first met him as a little 6-year-old until now,” McCracken said. “He never gives up on any of the kids on the team, trying to get their best even if they are not one of the best athletes or players.”
McCracken explained how Evans has driven him over the past years through his motivational attitude and speeches.
“Something I will remember from the past years playing for him is his speeches. I always took something from each one and connected it to the team, showing how much he thinks about us and cares for his players,” he said.
Evans explained that his job is not just to teach football; instead, he also wants to build relationships with his athletes.
“I think about all the slogans that we’ve used over the years, and nothing is more important to me than the power of togetherness,” Evans said. “And hopefully, they’ve taken that from their time here.”
Junior football player and upcoming Legacy captain Maxwell Kolbrener explained how Evans has also influenced him not just as an athlete, but as a leader as well.
“Evans is always pushing us to be better, whether it was the day before, the last season or just in general. He is someone we can rely on,” said Kolbrener.
Kolbrener also discussed how Evans is a role model for the team, and displays the values and attitude of a leader.
“The value of consistency and hard work is something that I’ve definitely learned through just being a part of the sport,” Kolbrener said. “I think it’s something that he has really instilled in me, and when you work hard, you’re going to get the results you want.”
As a future leader of the football team, Kolbrener has modeled after Evans’ motivation and used it to make an impact on the team. Through his relationship with Evans, Kolbrener has learned how much the coach cares about his players.
“He will do anything for his players,” Kolbrener said. “He tells us he would give us the shirt off his back if he could, and he is just always there for us for anything we might need.”
Evans does not only value his relationships with his athletes, but also with everyone that has helped him in his journey to being inducted into the PSFCA Hall of Fame.
“I realize that at the end of the day, my success, by large, has a lot to do with the relationships that I’ve had with coaches, players, incredible human beings, supportive parents and the supportive people all around us. I could not have done all this by myself,” Evans said. “I am very humble. I am very grateful and modest about the fact that I was recognized by my peers. So that to me is very, very powerful.”
Evans’ mentality of “forget the wins, remember the losses” has driven him to his success, along with his desire to build relationships with people throughout his life. According to PSFCA, he is an extraordinary portrayal of an outstanding coach and continues to make an impact.
Evans will be inducted into the 2026 PSFCA Coaches Hall of Fame on May 24 at 3 p.m. at the Cumberland Valley High School Performing Arts Center.
