Coach Patty Evers is Hanging Up the Whistle After 29 Legendary Seasons

Longtime assistant & former player Megan Kirby (left), Coach Patty Evers (middle), longtime assistant Alan West (right)

Elizabethtown, NC - In a statement that marks the end of an era in Bladen County athletics, East Bladen High School has officially announced the retirement of longtime head girls basketball coach Patty Evers.

After 29 seasons, including five at Tar Heel High School and 24 at East Bladen, Coach Evers leaves behind a legacy defined by excellence, leadership, and an unmatched dedication to her players and community.

Coach Evers began her career at Tar Heel High School in 1996. Over five seasons, she compiled a 73-42 record and led the program to its only conference championship in women’s basketball. Her teams made multiple playoff runs, including a 21-3 campaign in 1999-2000 that reached the third round.

In 2001, as part of a district-wide consolidation, Tar Heel High School joined with other local schools to form East Bladen and West Bladen High Schools.

Evers took the reins of the newly established East Bladen girls basketball program, where she would build one of the most successful runs in the state.

Across 24 seasons at East Bladen, Coach Evers amassed a 562-109 record, bringing her career total to an extraordinary 635-151.

Under her guidance, East Bladen reached 22 regional playoff game appearances, made nine Final Four appearances, and played in five state championship games.

Her teams captured 15 conference championships, 1 at Tar Heel High School and she was named Conference Coach of the Year 15 times.

On November 6th, 2022 East Bladen honored her legacy by naming the basketball court "Coach Patty Evers Court," a tribute to her decades of influence and inspiration.

Coach Evers' career has not only been marked by wins but by widespread recognition at the state and national levels.

In 2022, she became the only coach from North Carolina selected to lead a McDonald’s All American team.

A year earlier, she was honored with the inaugural North Carolina John Wooden Legacy Award, which celebrates coaches who lead with integrity and character.

She also led the NC team in the 2019 NC/SC All-Star Game and served as an assistant for the East/West All-Star Game in 2010.

Her excellence has earned her a spot in both the 500 and 600 Win Clubs of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.

Locally, she was a three-time Fayetteville Observer Coach of the Year (2006, 2010, 2014) and was twice named Region 4 Coach of the Year by the North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association (2009, 2014).

Her service and leadership extend far beyond the court. She served on the NCHSAA Board of Directors from 2015 to 2019 and has held a seat on the North Carolina Coaches Association Board of Directors, where she currently serves as president (2021-present). In 2023, she also joined the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association Board.

Among the many accolades from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association are the 2020 Charlie Adams Distinguished Service Award, the 2014 Doris Howard Female Coach of the Year Award, the 2011 Pat Gainey Coach of the Year Award, the 2006 Homer Thompson "Eight Who Make a Difference" recognition, the 2007 Region 4 Award of Merit, and the 2007 Toby Webb Coach of the Year Award.

Beyond basketball, Coach Evers also coached softball at East Bladen for 14 seasons, posting a 123-98 record and earning the school’s only two softball conference titles. She coached men’s tennis for one season as well.

Though stepping down as coach, Evers will remain active in athletics as the County Athletic Director and the East Bladen Athletic Director.

Throughout her career, Coach Evers has been supported by longtime assistants Alan West and Megan Kirby, both of whom are also stepping down. Kirby, a former player under Evers at Tar Heel, and West have been integral to the program's success. Assistant coach Asha Graham, another former player who led the JV team, remains on staff.

Year-by-Year Record

Tar Heel High School:

1. 1996-1997: 10-13 (First round vs. Jordan-Matthews)

2. 1997-1998: 11-10 (No playoffs)

3. 1998-1999: 15-6 (Second round vs. North Johnston)

4. 1999-2000: 21-3 (Third round vs. Union)

5. 2000-2001: 16-10 (Second round vs. South Brunswick)

   
   

East Bladen High School:

6. 2001-2002: 18-6 (Second round vs. Swansboro)

7. 2002-2003: 19-6 (Third round vs. Richlands)

8. 2003-2004: 14-11 (Second round vs. Whiteville)

9. 2004-2005: 24-5 (Eastern Semifinals vs. Red Springs)

10. 2005-2006: 24-5 (Eastern Finals vs. Southeast Halifax)

11. 2006-2007: 25-7 (State Finals vs. Bishop McGuinness)

12. 2007-2008: 27-4 (Eastern Finals vs. Pender)

13. 2008-2009: 26-3 (State Finals vs. Bishop McGuinness)

14. 2009-2010: 29-1 (State Finals vs. Salisbury)

15. 2010-2011: 30-2 (State Finals vs. Salisbury)

16. 2011-2012: 18-10 (First round vs. Reidsville)

17. 2012-2013: 21-7 (First round vs. South Lenoir)

18. 2013-2014: 28-2 (Eastern Semifinals vs. Reidsville)

19. 2014-2015: 26-1 (Third round vs. Kinston)

20. 2015-2016: 31-1 (Eastern Finals vs. North Pitt)

21. 2016-2017: 22-6 (Second round vs. Roanoke Rapids)

22. 2017-2018: 27-2 (Third round vs. Richlands)

23. 2018-2019: 27-2 (Second round vs. T.W. Andrews)

24. 2019-2020: 22-5 (Second round vs. Farmville Central)

25. 2020-2021: 8-2 (No playoffs, COVID-shortened season)

26. 2021-2022: 26-4 (Eastern Semifinals vs. St. Pauls)

27. 2022-2023: 19-8 (Second round vs. Northeastern)

28. 2023-2024: 25-5 (Eastern Finals vs. East Columbus)

29. 2024-2025: 26-4 (State Finals vs. Cherokee)

---

Coach Patty Evers is Hanging Up the Whistle After 29 Legendary Seasons