CHARLOTTE— Joe Evans has been named the new head football coach at Independence High School, according to various media reports.

Evans, who is 32, will be in his first head coaching position. He formerly served as the offensive coordinator at Independence.

Evans will take over for Bill Geiler, who is retiring. Geiler helped to guide the Patriots to the 2004 NCHSAA state 4-AA championship and a 15-0 record.

Independence has been a perennial football power in the last decade or so, winning seven NCHSAA state championships either under Geiler or former head coach Tom Knotts.