He joined the collegiate ranks the following year as a graduate assistant at the University of Oklahoma under coach Barry Switzer.
He helped turn both programs around as defensive and recruiting coordinator, and coached future NFL players such as Rod Smith.
Evans returned to the NCAA Division I level in 1998 as defensive coordinator at the University of North Texas under head coach Darrell Dickey.
During his eight years coaching there, the Mean Green won four Sun Belt Conference championships and made four appearances at the New Orleans Bowl.
He led the Riverhawks to two of winning seasons, which included a Lone Star Conference North Division title in 2010 and an appearance in the Mineral Water Bowl in 2011.