For Boynton, Evans, Leaving OSU For Illinois Was Nothing More Than A Thought

By tradition and promise, Mike Boynton was out with his kids the day after daddy’s basketball season ended, while mom was shopping. That was when he found out the man he came to Stillwater because of was leaving after 362 days in town. How did he find out? Like the rest of us … Twitter.

Boynton had been with Brad Underwood for four years dating to their time at South Carolina. When Underwood was hired at Stephen F. Austin, he called Boynton to come along and play the same role. Boynton willingly took a job demotion for Underwood.

So when he found out the boss was leaving, he said it was only natural that he think maybe he would go, too.

“There’s always a thought,” Boynton said. “I worked with him for four years, so naturally there’s a thought of, ‘I may not be coaching here, and I have to make sure (my family is) OK.'”

But he never got the call from Underwood to come north. By that time, he was already a candidate to interview with athletic director Mike Holder to replace Underwood in Stillwater. Boynton was one of five in the running. Three others were also inside the program in assistant coaches Lamont Evans and Danny Henderson, and long-time contributor James Dickey. Doug Gottlieb was the only one who wasn’t already there.

Boynton couldn’t stall on his chance to lead a team, something he had never done. He took the interview, made Holder cry with his passion for his family, was offered the position Friday and accepted.

Underwood sent Boynton a text congratulating him, and Boynton responded with, “Thanks.”

“That’s been the extent of our interaction,” Boynton said. So much for that phone call to meet up in Champaign. “It never materialized,” Boynton said. “And I’m thankful for that.”

For Evans, who Boynton announced as his right-hand man going forward, there was also a thought of another move, and his friends applied a little forced materialization, he said.

“The text messages I got, people had me pinned in Illinois in Champaign,” he said. “They were pickin’ out a house for me.”

Evans said he was a little stunned to learn Underwood had accepted Illinois’ offer but quickly understood that it was a business decision. He and Underwood have known each other for a dozen years, Evans said. Because of that, he said he was happy for him.

But that didn’t mean Evans was heading that way, too.

“That’s what naysayers (will say),” he said. “People don’t understand: Have a conversation with the person first.”

There were opportunities, though not extra alluring ones, to leave, Evans said. It wasn’t a decision by default to stay in Stillwater. It was a choice, he said.

He chose longevity.

“I wanted to be somewhere I can trust and believe in,” Evans said. “It wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t hard either.”

For Boynton, he is already self-imposing expectations of Final Fours, packing Gallagher-Iba Arena and more. He said he wants to have cheerleaders and the band and families and friends cheering the Cowboys on as they leave for places like Indianapolis or Kansas City or Phoenix because he expects to be playing on this weekend in five years.

When asked how confident he is that he will be part of that future, he said this:

“Very confident. Very confident. Very confident.”