Tom Evangelista - Defensive coordinator Tom Evangelista joined head coach Tommy Laurendine's staff in the spring of 2012. The arrival reunited Laurendine and Evangelista, who previously coached together at West Alabama in 1997-98.
Under Evangelista's leadership, Sewanee has produced 12 All-SAA defensive players. That includes a number of defensive backs that Evangelista works with every practice.
Before Sewanee, Evangelista was the defensive coordinator for three seasons at Presbyterian College. Under the direction of Evangelista, the Blue Hose finished as the Big South’s top-ranked unit in scoring defense, pass efficiency defense, and turnovers.
In his first year with PC, Evangelista's defense recovered 11 fumbles while also intercepting four passes. The group accounted for 51 tackles behind the line of scrimmage for a total of 198 yards. Additionally, the defense had 14 sacks and 19 pass break-ups on the year.
Individually, former PC defensive back Justin Bethel was named as an all-conference selection his sophomore season, under Evangelista. Bethel went on to become the first player drafted into the NFL from Presbyterian College having been selected in the sixth round by the Arizona Cardinals.
Prior to PC, Evangelista served nearly three years as the special teams coordinator and corners coach at nearby Furman University. During that time, he was responsible for game plan preparation and coordinating three phases of the special teams. His special teams squads ranked among the NCAA Division I-AA statistical leaders. Evangelista coached William Middleton to All-American honors in 2008 and saw Middleton selected in the fifth round of the NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
Prior to his time in Greenville, S.C., Evangelista worked as the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach at South Carolina State. He initially started as the special teams coordinator and secondary coach, filling in with that job for 18 months prior to changing his role with the team. In 2005 and 2006, his defense ranked among the NCAA Division I-AA leaders in every major defensive category. His special teams were near the top as well, and his kickoff coverage team led the nation in 2004.
From 2002-2004, Evangelista was a graduate assistant/secondary assistant at Clemson University. There he worked with the secondary and was a special teams position coach. Evangelista was part of two bowl teams, the 2002 Tangerine Bowl and the 2004 Peach Bowl squad who defeated then No. 6 Tennessee, 27-14.
In 1999, Evangelista took over as the secondary coach at the University of West Georgia. The following January, he also undertook the duties of defensive coordinator. Then, one year later, he was tabbed as the defensive coordinator, linebacker coach, and recruiting coordinator. During the 2000 season, his defense led the Gulf South Conference, giving up a mere 19.0 points per game and 299.3 yards of total offense. The team also ranked among the NCAA Division II statistical leaders in every major defensive category.
Evangelista’s first full-time coaching assignment came at the University of West Alabama in 1997 after spending nearly three years at West Georgia College as a graduate assistant, tight end coach, and defensive assistant. While at UWA, Evangelista coached the defensive backs and called the defenses for the Tigers during the 1997 and 1998 seasons.
In addition to his valuable experience on the field, Evangelista has also directed the Tommy Bowden Youth Camp from 2004-2006. An active member of the American Football Coaches Association since 1994, Evangelista earned his B.S. in mathematics and computer science from Vanderbilt University in 1994. He also has 70 hours toward a M.Ed., secondary math education, from State University of West Georgia and 24 hours toward a M.Ed., in education counseling from Clemson.
Evangelista has two children, Ty and Nick, who are nine-year old twins.
