(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 1)—The McKendree University athletic department surprised head volleyball coach Evelyn Bean with a brief ceremony honoring her 15 years as the program's head coach Tuesday evening at the Melvin Price Convocation Center.
 
Bean was recognized following the team's Senior Night activities and before the first serve of the Bearcats' match with Quincy University. Bean, who is stepping down at the conclusion of the season next week, will remain as the head coach of the McKendree softball team. She has served as the head coach of both programs since arriving on the Lebanon campus in 1997.
 
Bean – a native of Staunton, Ill. -- has led McKendree to 317 victories on the volleyball court. She is the program's all-time wins leader, and reached the 300-win mark during the 2010 season. In the Bearcats' former conference home, the American Midwest Conference, Bean guided McKendree to 13 AMC Tournament semifinal appearances in a 14-year span. The Bearcats had four AMC Tournament championship game berths during that time.
 
On the court, Bean coached 22 All-Conference and eight NAIA All-Region performers. McKendree's accomplishments in the classroom were equally as impressive, with 28 NAIA Scholar-Athlete honorees and 78 different Academic All-Conference recipients.
 
Counting her 10 years as the head coach at Lewis and Clark Community College, Bean has collected 578 victories as a collegiate volleyball coach.
 
At the conclusion of Tuesday's ceremony, McKendree director of athletics Dr. Todd Reynolds presented Bean with an award recognizing her 15 years of service to the Bearcats' volleyball program.