Rob Evans, Springfield Cardinals broadcaster for the last three seasons and the voice of Drury University basketball for the past eight years, will be the radio play-by-play announcer for the Missouri State University Lady Bears during the 2007-08 season, director of athletics Bill Rowe announced Wednesday.
For the 22nd consecutive year, Missouri State Lady Bear basketball will be broadcast by Meyer Communications on KTXR (101.3 FM). All games will air live and can also be heard over the internet at radiospringfield.com. Evans will also host "The Nyla Milleson Radio Show", which will air on either Jock 98.7 FM or KTXR once weekly during the regular season.
Evans has called the action for the Drury men’s basketball program since the 1999-2000 campaign and has served as the radio voice of DU women’s basketball for each of the program’s first seven seasons. Former Drury coach Nyla Milleson accepted the Missouri State head coaching job in April after guiding the Lady Panthers from the program’s inception.
"We’re very excited to have Rob aboard as our announcer," Milleson said. "He’s been tremendously loyal and supportive of our staff over the past seven years, so I know his heart and passion will be with the Lady Bears."
Evans, a Springfield Glendale graduate, began his broadcasting career in 1978 and has over 20 years of experience calling professional baseball, including parts of two seasons at the big league level as a fill-in announcer for the Montreal Expos. He spent 10 years as the voice of the Triple A Norfolk Tides and three seasons in Class AA Birmingham before returning to Springfield in 2001 for a full-time position with Meyer Communications. Evans serves as producer for The Jock’s morning program, The Sports Reporters, and has been a part of the Springfield Cardinals broadcast team since their inaugural season of 2005.
Since his return to the Ozarks, Evans has remained busy on the local college scene, broadcasting Evangel University football and basketball, Southwest Baptist football and Central Bible College basketball, as well as Missouri State football, baseball and softball in addition to his work at Drury and with the Cardinals.
The Missouri State Lady Bears begin preseason practice for the 2007-08 season on Friday (Oct. 12) and, following home exhibition games against Arkansas Tech (Nov. 4) and Lambuth (Nov. 6), will open the upcoming campaign at Texas on Sunday, Nov. 11.
