-Press Release-

Price, UT –  First year men’s basketball head coach, Bill Evans, recently announced two new assistants to complete his coaching staff.   USU Eastern welcomes Thomas Salmon and Easton Ralphs to the athletics department.

Coach Thomas Salmon joins the Eagles after serving as an assistant for cross conference foe, Snow College. In both of his two seasons the Badgers reached the region 18 championship. He helped them to a record of 44-21 and a national ranking as high as #12. In the 2018-19 season the badgers lead the country in made 3’s per game and won both the Scenic West Athletic Conference and the Region 18 tournament.

Prior to joining Snow college, he served as an undergraduate assistant at Utah Valley University for two seasons. He worked alongside the coaching staff to lead UVU to a school best 23-11 record and 16-1 home record along with a berth in the College Basketball Invitational in each of his seasons with the team. Salmon also helped Utah Valley University to their best KenPom.com ranking in school history, finishing the year at No. 92.

As a player he played at Southwestern Oregon Community College. He was a starter for both years and led the team on and off the court, earning all-academic honors in both of his two seasons.
Thomas graduated from Utah Valley University with a bachelor’s degree in communications. A Willard, Utah native, he and his wife Sky have one son, Oakley.”Thomas’s experiences at Utah Valley and Snow College will, will greatly benefit our program at USU Eastern.  He is highly motivated and comes highly recommended by guys I trust.  I am really excited to have him help our program.  I am confident he will be a great asset,” said head coach Bill Evans.

Coach Easton Ralphs is coming to Price after serving as a student manager during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons under Coach Bill Evans at Idaho State University.  During the 2019-20 season he served as a Graduate Assistant and Director of Men’s Basketball Equipment also at Idaho State University.Ralphs graduated from Idaho State University in the spring of 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science and then continued on and finished up a Master’s Degree in Athletic Administration this past summer.

“Easton’s work ethic is as good or better than anyone I have ever been around.  His integrity and loyalty are characteristics every head coach values.  He is in the trenches every minute of every day.  He is as good as it gets,” said Evans.