Evelyn Bean enters her 14th season at the helm of the McKendree University volleyball program. Bean is the all-time wins leader in Bearcat volleyball history. She enters the 2010 season with 280 wins after guiding McKendree to 18 victories a year ago. Bean became the Bearcats’ all-time wins leader back in 2004.
Bean, who coached at Lewis and Clark Community College for 10 years prior to arriving at McKendree, reached the 500-win mark for her career during the 2007 season. Combining her record at Lewis and Clark with McKendree, Bean has amassed 541 career wins.
Since joining the McKendree staff in 1997, Bean has guided the Bearcats to eight 20-win seasons, including a 30-10 mark in 1998. The 30 victories are the third-highest season win total in program history. Under Bean’s leadership McKendree advanced to NAIA regional tournament play six times. Bean has also coached the Bearcats to the semifinal round of the American Midwest Conference Tournament in 12 of her 13 seasons, including tournament runner-up finishes in 1998, 1999 and 2004.
The success of Bean’s program can be measured both athletically and academically. On the court, Bean has coached 18 All-Conference and eight All-Region performers. In the classroom the volleyball program has produced 19 NAIA Scholar-Athletes. There have also been 62 different McKendree players that have earned Academic All-Conference accolades during Bean’s tenure. In 2009-10 the Bearcat volleyball squad was one of 12 McKendree athletic programs to be named to the NAIA Scholar-Team list.
Bean stresses the importance of a well-rounded collegiate experience to her student-athletes. She reminds them that their main objective is to get an education first, get the most out of their college experience, and to excel on the volleyball court. “I like to recruit players who do well in the classroom and also perform well on the court,” said Bean. “It is a winning combination.”
A native of Staunton, Ill., Bean was a three-sport star at Staunton High School, excelling in volleyball, basketball and track and field. During her sophomore year at Staunton, the Lady Bulldog volleyball squad posted an undefeated season. As a senior, Bean helped lead Staunton to the Illinois High School Association Elite Eight.
Bean continued her education at Greenville College. She competed on the Panthers’ volleyball and softball teams. Bean earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Greenville in 1985. In 2007, Bean received her master’s degree in education from McKendree.
At Lewis and Clark, Bean led the Trailblazers to a record of 261-206. She guided the program to 30 wins five times in 10 seasons, including a career-high 45 victories in 1992.
