COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Tim Banks is in his fifth season with the Nittany Lions as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach after spending four seasons at Illinois.
- Banks helped run a defense that ranked fifth nationally against the run (95.0) and eighth in scoring (16.0) in 2019. The Nittany Lions additionally led the nation in forced fumbles (22) and were tied for third in fewest touchdown passes allowed (10).
- Penn State gave up just 16.0 points per game (8th), the fewest for PSU since the 2009 squad allowed 12.2 tallies per contest.
- Safeties Lamont Wade and Garrett Taylor were honorable mention All-Big Ten honorees during the 2019 campaign.
- In 2018, the secondary limited opponents through the air, finishing eighth nationally in team passing efficiency (106.10) and 15th in passing yards allowed (181.5).
- Safeties Nick Scott and Taylor collected honorable-mention berths on the 2018 All-Big Ten team.
- Penn State had 13 interceptions in 2018, the most since collecting 16 picks in the 2014 season.
- The Nittany Lions held three opponents to 60 or less yards through the air (Pittsburgh, 55; Wisconsin, 60; Rutgers, 46) in 2018. It was the first time since 1976 that PSU has held three teams to 60 or less passing yards in 1976 (Ohio State, Iowa, Kentucky) in a single season.
- In 2017, both starting safeties, Marcus Allen (first team) and Troy Apke (honorable mention), earned All-Big Ten accolades and were invited to the NFL Combine.
- Banks assisted in guiding a defensive unit that helped the Nittany Lions to a second-straight New Year’s Six bowl game for the first time since 1985 (Orange) and 1986 (Fiesta).
- The Nittany Lions defense finished in the top 25 in FBS in scoring defense (7th; 16.5), sacks (7th; 3.23), rushing defense (14th; 118.0), total defense (17th; 329.5), team passing efficiency defense (21st; 114.88), turnovers gained (23rd; 25) and tackles for loss (25th; 7.2).
- In his first season at Penn State, Banks helped the Nittany Lions to the Big Ten Championship by guiding a unit that finished 37th in FBS total defense (367.9), seventh in tackles for loss (8.1) and 19th in sacks (2.86).
- Under Banks’ tutelage, Allen garnered 2016 All-Big Ten third team honors as a junior after leading the team with 110 tackles, including 6.0 tackles for loss, and two fumble recoveries.
- Allen also blocked the field goal attempt that led to Grant Haley’s scoop-and-score for the game-winning touchdown against No. 2 Ohio State.
- As the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Illinois in 2015, Banks led the Fighting Illini to a 15th-place finish in FBS in passing yards allowed (184.4) and 21st in team passing efficiency defense (112.24).
- He helped the Fighting Illini to the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl in 2014.
- Three players from the 2012 Illini defense were selected in the 2013 NFL Draft – Akeem Spence (4th round), Terry Hawthorne (5th round) and Michael Buchanan (7th round).
- Prior to his time in Champaign, Banks spent the 2010 and 2011 seasons as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Cincinnati, helping the Bearcats to the 2011 Big East co-championship.
- During his tenure, the Bearcats finished sixth in rushing defense the country, ninth in turnover margin and second in sacks in 2011.
- Banks coached 2011 Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year and 2012 NFL Draft second-round pick Derek Wolfe, as well as first-team All-Big East selections Drew Frey and JK Schaefer.
- Following the 2011 season, he was nominated for the Broyles Award for Assistant Coach of the Year.
- Additionally, Banks spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator at his alma mater, Central Michigan, helping the Chippewas win two Mid-American Conference titles and three bowl appearances.
- Banks spent four seasons at Maryland, serving as the inside linebackers coach from 2003-05 and the defensive backs coach in 2006.
- Under Banks’ guidance, linebacker D’Qwell Jackson was a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference first team selection (2004-05), ACC Defensive Player of the Year (2005) and a Bednarik Award finalist (2005).
- Banks and Franklin worked together for two seasons (2003-04) at Maryland.
- Banks has also made coaching stops at Memphis as the defensive backs coach (2002) and outside linebackers coach (2001), Bowling Green as the defensive backs coach (2000) and running backs coach (1999), Ferris State as the defensive backs coach (1997-98) and Bowling Green as a graduate assistant (1996).
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A PLAYER
- Banks was a four-year letterwinner at Central Michigan.
- A cornerback, he was a two-time All-MAC second team selection (1993-94) and was a co-captain on the Chippewas’ 1994 MAC Championship team.
- He led CMU in tackles in 1993 with 105 stops.
PROMINENT PLAYERS COACHED
- Garrett Taylor (Penn State) - Buffalo Bills
- Nick Scott (Penn State) - Los Angeles Rams; 2019 NFL Draft seventh-round pick
- Troy Apke (Penn State) - Washington Redskins; 2018 NFL Draft fourth-round pick
- Marcus Allen (Penn State) - Pittsburgh Steelers; 2018 NFL Draft fifth-round pick
- Clayton Fejedelem (Illinois) - Miami Dolphins; 2016 NFL Draft seventh-round pick; Led Big Ten in tackles in 2015; All-Big Ten second team
- JiHad Ward (Illinois) - Baltimore Ravens; 2016 NFL Draft second-round pick
- Akeem Spence (Illinois) - Miami Dolphins; 2013 NFL Draft fourth-round pick
- Derek Wolfe (Cincinnati) - Baltimore Ravens; All-American; Super Bowl 50 Champion; 2012 NFL Draft second-round pick; Co-Big East Defensive Player of the Year
- John Hughes (Cincinnati) - NFL (2012-18); 2012 NFL Draft third-round pick
- J.K. Schaffer (Cincinnati) - NFL (2012-14); Two-time All-Big East; 2011 Big East Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year
- Jahleel Addae (CMU) - Houston Texans; Three-time All-MAC
- Frank Zombo (CMU) - NFL (2010-18); Second in CMU history with 25.5 sacks
- Nick Bellore (CMU) - Seattle Seahawks; Three-time All-MAC first team
- Josh Wilson (Maryland) - NFL (2007-15); 2007 NFL Draft second-round pick
- D’Qwell Jackson (Maryland) - NFL (2006-16); 2014 NFL Pro Bowl; 2006 NFL Draft second-round pick
- Erin Henderson (Maryland) - NFL (2008-16); Two-time All-ACC
THE BANKS FILE
Personal
Year at Penn State: Fifth
Hometown: Detroit, Mich.
Education: Central Michigan University, 1995 - B.A. Industrial Management
Family: Wife: Robin
Coaching Career
2016-present - Penn State (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties)
2012-15 - Illinois (Defensive coordinator/Secondary)
2010-11 - Cincinnati (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
2007-09 - Central Michigan (Defensive Coordinator)
2006 - Maryland (Defensive Backs)
2003-05 - Maryland (Inside Linebackers)
2002 - Memphis (Defensive Backs)
2001 - Memphis (Outside Linebackers)
2000 - Bowling Green (Defensive Backs)
1999 - Bowling Green (Running Backs)
1997-98 - Ferris State (Defensive Backs)
1996 - Bowling Green (Graduate Assistant)
Bowl Games as a Coach
- 2019 Goodyear Cotton Bowl - Penn State
- 2019 VRBO Citrus Bowl - Penn State
- 2017 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl - Penn State
- 2017 Rose Bowl - Penn State
- 2014 Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl - Illinois
- 2011 Liberty Bowl - Cincinnati
- 2010 GMAC Bowl - Cincinnati
- 2008 Motor City Bowl - Central Michigan
- 2007 Motor City Bowl - Central Michigan
- 2006 Champs Sports Bowl - Maryland
- 2004 Gator Bowl - Maryland