Where Are They Now - Forest Evashevski
As the Iowa Hawkeyes are set to host the Michigan Wolverines this weekend on the gridiron, we thought it would be a good time to look back at a man that stands prominent in each school’s football history. Join us, as we take a look at “Where Are They Now?” with Michigan All Big Ten performer and Iowa Hall of Fame football coach Forest Evashevski.
Evashevski, a Detroit native, lettered three times in football and baseball at the University of Michigan. He earned Big Ten All Conference honors in each of his three seasons from 1938 to 1940 as Michigan’s quarterback in Coach Fritz Crisler’s single-wing offense. As quarterback, Evashevski primarily served as the blocking back for All American halfback and Heisman trophy winner Tom Harmon. In his senior year, Evy was awarded the Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor, demonstrating proficiency in scholarship and academics. He graduated from Michigan in 1941 with a degree in sociology and psychology and was the president of his senior class.
Following his years at Michigan, Evashevski passed up an opportunity in professional football to pursue his coaching career. He started at the small school of Hamilton College in upstate New York, where his team posted a 5-2 record in his one season at the helm. Following a short stint as an assistant at Pittsburgh in the spring, Evy enlisted in the Navy in 1942.
After his release from the service in 1946, the coaching profession came calling again and he soon joined Coach Biggie Munn at Syracuse. Evy would follow Munn to Michigan State in 1947 before ultimately landing his first major head coaching job with Washington State in 1950. After an 11-6-2 record in his two years at Washington State, Evy had his choice of two Big Ten head coaching jobs -- Iowa or Indiana. He chose the Hawkeyes and was named as the replacement to Leonard Raffensperger on January 6, 1952.
Evashevski’s inaugural Iowa team lost their first four games in 1952 before a showdown with Coach Woody Hayes and his Ohio State Buckeyes. The Hawkeyes came away with Evy’s first victory at Iowa that week, by a score of 8-0. The legendary Hayes would later call Evashevski “the best offensive coach in the nation.” Iowa went on to finish 2-7 in Evy’s first year.
The 1953 season brought a 5-3-1 record for the Hawkeyes, including the famous tie against Notre Dame in which Irish players feigned injuries in order to stop the clock late in the game. After seasons of 5-4 and 3-5-1, Evashevski had a breakout year in 1956. Led by Kenny Ploen and Alex Karras, Iowa finished 9-1 and won the school’s first Big Ten championship since 1921. That team went on to win the Rose Bowl 35-19 over Oregon State and finished the season ranked third in the nation.
The 1957 season brought more success with a 7-1-1 record and a sixth place ranking nationally. Then 1958 brought Evy his most successful team. The Hawkeyes finished with an 8-1-1 record that season and Evy won his second Big Ten championship. The season concluded with a convincing 38-12 victory over California in the Rose Bowl. With players such as Randy Duncan, Bob Jeter, and Willie Fleming, Iowa’s offense led the nation in both rushing and passing in 1958. Following the season, Evy was named Coach of the Year and Iowa finished second in both the Associated Press and United Press national rankings. Also, the Football Writers Association voted Iowa the #1 team in the nation and the Hawkeyes were awarded the Grantland Rice Trophy.
After finishing 5-4 in 1959, Iowa again won the Big Ten championship in 1960, sharing the title with Minnesota. The Hawkeyes finished third in the national polls in what would be Evashevski’s final season at the helm. In 1960, Evy retired from coaching at the age of 42 and took over as athletic director at Iowa, where he would remain until 1970.
Evashevski’s career record at Iowa was 52-27-4.
His teams finished in the top 10 nationally five times in his nine years. He won or shared three Big Ten titles and was victorious in both of his Rose Bowl appearances. In Evy’s highly successful run from 1956-1958, his teams were a combined 24-3-2. In all, he coached 22 All Big Ten players and 13 All Americans. All of this was done at a school that had seen just three winning seasons in the fifteen years prior to Evy. As mentioned, his 1956 Big Ten championship team was the first at Iowa in 35 years. Following his 1960 title, it would be 21 years before Iowa would win another, under Coach Hayden Fry in 1981. Evashevski was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2000.
Let’s take a look at “Where Are They Now?” with Forest Evashevski.
Name: Forest Evashevski
Age: 85
Family: Wife (Ruth) and 5 sons, 2 daughters
Currently Resides: Petoskey, Michigan
Current Occupation: Retired
Years as a Coach at Iowa: 9 years, from 1952 until 1960.
Years as an Athletic Director at Iowa: 10 years, from 1960 until 1970.
Team and Post Season Honors: ’57 and ’59 Rose Bowls.
Most memorable moments at Iowa as a coach: Both Rose Bowl victories.
Most memorable players: Randy Duncan, Kenny Ploen, Willie Fleming, Jim Gibbons, Jerry Reichow, Don Suchy, Jerry Hilgenberg, Dusty Rice, Bob Jeter.
What was the biggest obstacle in turning around the Iowa football program: The lack of a rich football tradition.
What else did you take with you from your time at Iowa and in Iowa City: Pleasant memories of great young men who played during my times as a coach.
Impressions of the current team and coaching staff at Iowa: Have not followed the team. (Note - While he may not follow closely anymore, Evashevski did send a letter to Coach Ferentz last year, congratulating him on the Big Ten championship season.)
Do you stay in touch with your former players or coaches? If so, whom: Yes, Bob Flora – line coach. Exchange letters and Christmas cards with many old players.
Do you ever get back to Iowa City? No, but I will since I have a grandson at the University.
Hawkeye Report would like to sincerely thank Mr. Evashevski for his time in doing this feature.