EVANGEL – Steve Jenkins (’74) former Evangel University men’s basketball coach who won a national championship in 2002 died, November 7, 2024, in Springfield, Missouri at age 72.
Details regarding a memorial service will be announced in the coming days.
Born and raised in Pittsfield, Illinois, Jenkins married his wife, Rhonda (also Class of ’74), and together they have three grown children: Sarah, Jon, and David.
Jenkins’s influence at Evangel extended far beyond his impressive record as a coach and player. Over his 39-year career coaching basketball, baseball, and golf at Evangel, he became a respected mentor whose reach impacted the entire university community.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved Coach Steve Jenkins, a remarkable leader and mentor whose impact extended far beyond the basketball court,” said Evangel University President Dr. Mike Rakes. “Coach Jenkins was more than a coach—he was a teacher, a mentor, and a guiding force who shaped the lives of countless players, staff, and the Evangel family. His unwavering commitment to God, his family, and excellence in all things set an enduring example of what it truly means to use one’s vocational skills to bless the world.”
Evangel University recognized him by naming the floor inside the new AGFinancial Arena, Steve Jenkins Court in his honor last spring. The arena opened earlier this fall and was dedicated during Homecoming in October. The Evangel men won their first-ever game played on the court, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in a 99-95 victory over Columbia College.
Evangel Athletics’ all-time leader in coaching wins, Jenkins was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2014. Jenkins, who earned his 600th career win on January 9, 2014, was also selected for induction to the Evangel Athletics Hall of Fame (2006), the Millwood Golf and Racquet Club Hall of Fame, the Springfield Area Sports Hall of Fame (2011), the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2013) and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame (2016).
A 1974 Evangel graduate, Jenkins earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and physical education, graduating with summa cum laude honors. Jenkins starred as a student-athlete for EU, both on the basketball hardwood and the baseball diamond during his undergraduate experience. He lettered four years in baseball and three times in basketball.
Following his graduation from Evangel, Jenkins pursued his coaching and teaching career at Evangel Christian School in Lakeland, Fla., where he coached basketball and baseball from 1974-76. Jenkins also received his master’s degree from the University of South Florida in 1978.
Jenkins returned to Evangel for good in 1977, serving as an assistant to then-head coach Aundrae Curtis. After five years in that role, Jenkins was promoted to the post of head coach for the 1982-83 season.
An Evangel faculty member from 1977 to 2015, he was promoted to associate professor of physical education during the summer of 2002.
During Jenkins’ tenure at Evangel, the Hall of Fame head coach spanned over a half-century and has helped shaped not only Evangel Athletics but the University as a whole. EU captured seven Heart of America Athletic Conference Championships and made 13 NAIA national tournament appearances. In those seasons, he was named Heart Conference Coach of the Year seven times and earned NAIA National Coach of the Year honors in 2002, after leading Evangel to the NAIA-II National Championship.
“In his decades of dedication to the game, Coach Jenkins not only achieved remarkable success on the court but also inspired his players to pursue excellence in all areas of life,” added Rakes. “We will remember him not only for his victories on the court but for the values he embodied and the lives he changed.
Today, we honor the legacy of Coach Steve Jenkins—a legacy that will live on in the hearts of his players and a legend for those who had the privilege to know him.”
With Jenkins at the helm, Evangel turned in one of the more dominant stretches in Heart Conference men’s basketball history. After leading EU to its first NAIA postseason berth in 1996-97, he helped elevate the men’s basketball program—and University—onto the national stage over the ensuing two decades. Evangel captured six regular-season conference titles, six conference tournament championships and earned 11 NAIA National Tournament berths in a 15-year span. EU finished first or second in the Heart regular-season race in 12 of those seasons and won at least 20 games 13 times, including a string of 10-consecutive 20-win seasons from 2005-06 through the 2014-15 campaign.
The historic 2001-02 season saw Evangel finish 35-1 and post a perfect 20-0 conference record en route to the University’s first NAIA national title. A pair of standouts earned first-team All-America recognition, with Daniel Cutbirth and Bryan Osterloh sharing Heart Conference Player of the Year honors. Cutbirth also earned Most Outstanding Player laurels at the national tournament. Evangel cruised from start to finish as the top-ranked team in the nation, capturing the program’s second Heart Conference Tournament championship.
Under Jenkins, 24 different Evangel players earned a total of 37 first-team All-Heart Conference honors, with six bringing home the league’s Player of the Year award, along with two Freshman of the Year honorees, four Newcomer of the Year winners, and one Defensive Player of the Year recipient.
An exceptional teacher and mentor, Jenkins leaves behind a legacy of leadership that extends far beyond Evangel University. His coaching “tree” includes over 30 former players and staff members currently holding coaching positions across the country.
As head coach of the Evangel baseball team from 1978-83 as well, Jenkins logged a 132-97-3 overall record. He mentored five all-district performers, including the first NAIA All-American (Scott Morgan) and Academic All-American (Eric Collins) in program history. His 132 wins rank No. 2 on EU’s all-time coaching wins list for baseball.
He also served as EU’s men’s golf coach from 1998-2016, earning Heart Coach of the Year honors in 2010 and 2012 and leading the program to its first conference championship.
