SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – American International College Director of Athletics Rob Kearney announced on Monday, April 13 that RJ Evans has been named AIC's Head Men's Basketball Coach.
Evans comes to AIC from Northern Kentucky University, where he served as the lead assistant for the NCAA Division I program since 2024.
"Throughout the search process RJ stood out for multiple reasons. His experience speaks for itself, but what really helped me understand who he is as a coach was hearing more about his ability to build relationships with his players, his coaching philosophy and the 'chip on his shoulder' attitude. AIC Athletics is built on grit, resilience and a team mentality, and all these things, he exemplifies in spades. RJ is what I believe we need at AIC during this transformational moment in our Men's Basketball program to rebuild a culture of winning. He has the skills, the hunger and the plan to elevate AIC Men's Basketball and put us back in the conversation as one of the best programs in the NE10 and make a run for the NCAA Tournament," Kearney said.
"I am incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead the men's basketball program at American International College. I want to sincerely thank Athletic Director Rob Kearney and President Nicolle Cestero for their trust and belief in my vision. AIC is a special place and I'm excited to build a program that the community can be proud of - one that reflects toughness, discipline, and pride. My family and I are thrilled to get to work and become part of the Yellow Jacket family," Evans said.
At Northern Kentucky, Evans led the defensive and personnel strategy on a squad that reached the Horizon League semifinals in 2025-26 and had the second-best scoring margin in the conference at plus-5.7 points per game; the baseline offense that he ran averaged 1.21 points per possession, top-20 in NCAA Division I.
He was responsible in particular for developing the wing players, and under his tutelage Donovan Oday was Second-Team All-Conference and Tae Dozier earned All-Defensive Team.
Prior to his time at Northern Kentucky, Evans coached five seasons at his alma mater, the College of the Holy Cross, from 2019-2024. He led visit strategy during recruiting, including presentations and stakeholder communications, and was responsible for developing the bigs with the Crusaders, helping Gerrale Gates earn three All-Patriot League selections and Caleb Kenney garner Defensive Player of the Year. He additionally spearheaded an alumni mentorship program that helped graduating student-athletes find employment.
Evans' experience also includes a season at the University of Louisville, where he mentored two players who went on to reach the NBA in Deng Adel and Ray Spalding, two years as a graduate assistant at the University of Texas, helping the Longhorns reach the NCAA Tournament, and one season at Nichols College, helping the Bison to a conference title and a Player of the Year selection.
A 2012 graduate of Holy Cross with a degree in economics, Evans scored 1,200 points, 477 rebounds, 214 assists, and 130 steals with the Crusaders. He garnered the 2009 Patriot League Rookie of the Year Award and was a captain as a senior; he played one additional season at the University of Connecticut in 2012-13, earning a master's in educational psychology. He also holds a postgraduate diploma in international business from Durham University in the United Kingdom, and a second master's in general kinesiology from the University of Texas.
