A magical year on the court for the Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk volleyball team included one of the best coaching brain-trusts in the state on the sideline. The Golden Hawk volleyball staff, led by co-head coaches Sherry and Zeb Evans were recognized this week as Coaches of the Year by the River Valley Conference.

Under their direction, the Hawks ranked in the top 10 of Class 3A in 11 different team and individual stat categories. Five Mid-Prairie players were named All-River Valley Conference, four on the first team including 2024 Player of the Year Jovi Evans, 2023 Player of the Year Dakota Mitchell, Callie Huber, Harper Pacha and honorable mention RVC Jeorgia Evans. Three, including Huber, Brylee Gearhart and Lilly Miller were named Academic All-State in 3A. This is the third straight year the Mid-Prairie staff has been honored by the RVC.

This week Sherry and Zeb Evans spoke with KCII Sports about the award.

Sherry Evans said, “This means a lot. It shows that we coach as a team and think that’s how the award should go. It’s our entire staff that puts in the work. It’s awesome for our program. We have great support Becky Becker, Kenzie Mantz, Zeb and myself, I think we have a great dynamic. It’s awesome how we can work together to help the team.”

Zeb Evans continued, “We all work together, we all have our strengths. We shuffle people around, we try weird things, we call it ‘Our Way’ and all of the coaches have bought into that. I think the girls like it to. All of this boiled down to the pure talent we have on the floor. We’re just guiding talent, and that’s what makes it easy and fun!”

The co-head coaches were joined this year by assistants Rebecca Becker and Makenzie Mantz. Becker was an Iowa Girls Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year nominee. The 2024 Golden Hawks set a school record with 33 wins, captured the program’s first back-to-back River Valley Conference South regular season championships and tournament championship and earned their first bid to State since 2004.