The Springfield-area is mourning the loss of a coaching legend in long-time Evangel basketball coach Steve Jenkins.
Jenkins was a graduate of Evangel University in 1974, then later became the head coach of the men’s basketball program in 1977, where he coached for 39 seasons, amassing an overall record of 692-542, with a winning percentage of 56.1%.
The newly built Valor Center on campus recently named the floor at the facility after him.
He had long been dealing with health battles, including a dementia diagnosis that was fast moving.
Jenkins is a member of many different halls of fame, including the NAIA Hall of Fame, the Evangel Athletics Hall of Fame, Missouri Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the Springfield Area Sports Hall of Fame, and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
He will long be remembered as a tremendous coach, husband, father, teacher, molder-of-men, and as an avid lover of the game of golf.
“Coach (Jenkins) taught all of us who were around him how to love our family, our friends, and the right way to treat those around us,” said Jenkins longtime friend and former assistant coach Dick Rippee.
