Football
- Title:
- Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
- Phone:
- 205-348-3600
Jeff Banks begins his first season on head coach Nick Saban’s staff as the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach after spending the previous five years in the same role at Texas A&M.
Banks, a veteran special teams coordinator and former All-Pac 10 punter, will need to replace All-American punter JK Scott and place-kicker Andy Pappanastos in 2018. Alabama returns two long snappers in Thomas Fletcher and Scotty Meyer and returners Trevon Diggs, Henry Ruggs III, Xavian Marks and Josh Jocobs. The Crimson Tide signed one of the nation’s top high school punters in Skyler Delong and have kicker Joseph Bulovas coming off of a redshirt season.
Banks comes to Alabama after five years as the tight ends and special teams coordinator for Kevin Sumlin at Texas A&M. The Aggies boasted one of the nation’s top special teams units in 2017, ranking third nationally in net punting (42.29 ypp) and second nationally in punt returns with a 17.1 average and two touchdown. Punter Shane Tripucka ranked sixth nationally in punting with an average of 45.5 yards per punt. Banks’ units were No. 1 nationally with eight blocked kicks a season ago.
In 2016, the Aggies led the nation in punt returns average at 25.39 yards per return with four touchdowns. Returner Christian Kirk led the nation individually in punt return touchdowns with three while averaging 21.7 yards on 13 returns. Texas A&M also ranked seventh nationally in net punting in 2016 with a 41.58 yard average.
The highlight of his first season with the Aggies in 2013 was the development of punter Drew Kaser and placekicker Josh Lambo. Kaser broke the A&M single-season record with a 47.4 punt average while being named a first-team All-American and being selected as a finalist for the Ray Guy Award. Kaser was a sixth-round NFL Draft pick of the Chargers in 2016. Lambo connected on 80 percent of his field goal kicks and was 50-of-51 PATs. The Aggies also blocked an SEC-high three kicks, ranked third in net punting (39.4) and second in KO return defense (18.3).
Prior to arriving at Texas A&M in 2013, Banks had a brief stint as as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator at Virginia after having coached running backs and coordinated special teams for nine years at UTEP (2004-12).
During his time in El Paso, Banks oversaw one of the top special teams units in Conference USA as the Miners led the league in special teams statistics in 2011 and 2012. In 2012, UTEP led the conference in net punting with a 40.1 average and punt return defense with a 3.1 yard average. The Miners allowed just 65 yards on 21 opponent punt returns. The Miners also ranked No. 3 in kickoff returns (23.8 avg.) and No. 4 in punt returns (10.1). UTEP blocked four kicks and returned a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns.
The 2011 season saw UTEP led C-USA in punting (40.5 avg.) and ranked second in kickoff returns (26.3 avg.) and third in kickoff coverage (44.4 avg.). The Miners rated fourth nationally in kickoff returns and sixth in net punting, and the team blocked three punts and also executed successful fake kicks for first downs on the road on three occasions.
In 2009, a Banks pupil Donald Buckram broke UTEP’s season rushing record that had stood for over 60 years by rushing for 1,594 yards.
Banks served as an assistant coach at Idaho State from 2000-03 where he was the special teams coordinator, recruiting coordinator and running backs coach. Idaho State led the nation in net punting twice in his three seasons.
Banks got his coaching start as a graduate assistant under Mike Price at Washington State from 1998-2000, where he worked with the offense and the punters and kickers.
As a player, Banks was a two-time all-conference punter for Washington State, posting a 42.8 yard average as a junior and 43.4 yard average as a senior. In his final season, he led the Pac-10 and was No. 15 nationally while helping the Cougars go 10-2 and earn an invitation to the Rose Bowl. Banks was also selected to participate in the Senior Bowl.
Banks has a daughter, Sydnei, and two sons, Gage and Tanner. Banks earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Washington State in 1999.
