Golden Valley High School Athletic Director Robert Fisher has announced Rob Evans, coach of the Grizzlies CIF State Championship boys cross country team in 2011, is returning to coach the team after a three-year absence.

 Evans and his brother Chris (now coaching at UC-Irvine), coached the Grizzlies from 2007-2012, winning the league, CIF Division II and state championships in 2011 and qualifying teams for state from 2008-2011.  The Grizzlies also has Foothill League Individual champions with Seth Totten (2008) and Kristian Martinez (2011).

 “We are extremely excited to have Coach Evans back coaching at Golden Valley,” Fisher said.  “Coach Evans built the foundation of success and created a very high level of expectation and competition with in our Cross Country program.”

Though he remained at the school as a teacher, Evans stepped down in the spring of 2012 when he became a father.  With his children now older, and with the support of his wife Janelle, Evans approached coach Sara Soltani about getting back to coaching.  Soltani “was open and gracious enough to welcome me back.”

 “To be able to come back and coach at GV is such an honor,” Evans said.  “To witness the athletic, academic, and personal growth of athletes as they commit themselves to the challenging process of being a runner is incredibly inspiring. Santa Clarita has a rich and fabled tradition of distance-running excellence with multiple schools having won State Championships.  It is an honor, and a special challenge, to compete in this tough league.”