Assistant Coach Gary Banks

GARY BANKS

WIDE RECEIVERS

@coachbanks2008

Trojan great Gary Banks begins his second season on the Troy staff and first coaching the Trojan receivers after coaching the outside receivers in 2021. Banks won a pair of Sun Belt titles and played in two bowl games during his playing career for the Trojans before going on to a career in the NFL.

Banks joins the Troy staff following two seasons as the head football and baseball coach and athletics director at Choctaw County High School in Butler, Ala. Prior to that, he spent the 2018 season as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Foley High School following four seasons (2014-17) at Florence High School.

In his first season at Florence, the Falcons posted an 11-3 record, won a district title and advanced to the Alabama 6A semifinals. Banks served as Florence’s offensive coordinator, quarterback coach and assistant head coach during his tenure in addition to working with the punt and kickoff returners.

A three-time All-Sun Belt selection for the Trojans, Banks currently ranks seventh all-time in Troy history with 155 career receptions and 14th in both receiving yards (1,625) and touchdown receptions (13). A native of Melvin, Ala., Banks joined the Troy program after playing Minor League Baseball in the Chicago Cubs organization for three years; he was selected by the Cubs in the fifth round of the 2000 MLB Draft.

Banks was a member of Troy’s first Division I bowl team (2004 Silicon Valley Classic) and led the Trojans in receiving in both 2006 and 2007; the first two of Troy’s five straight Sun Belt Conference titles. Banks caught the game-winning touchdown pass with 14 seconds remaining in the “Miracle at Murfreesboro” in 2006 as Troy rallied from a 13-point deficit late in the fourth quarter against Middle Tennessee.

Banks signed a free agent deal with the San Diego Chargers following his Troy career and spent three years with the organization and made his active roster debut in 2010 where he played in a pair of games.

YEAR AT TROY: AGE: HOMETOWN: WIFE: CHILDREN: HIGH SCHOOL: ALMA MATER:

2nd (2021-pr.) 40 (Nov. 4, 1981) Melvin, Ala. Shaundra Kimora, Braylon, Carter, Austin Southern Choctaw HS (‘00) Troy (‘08) - B.S. in Physical Education

PLAYING CAREER

2004-07 2000-03

COACHING CAREER

Troy Wide Receivers Outside Wide Receivers

Choctaw County (Ala.) HS (Head Coach - FB/BSB) Foley (Ala.) HS (Offensive Coordinator / WR) Florence (Ala.) HS (Offensive Coordinator / WR) Miles College (Receivers) Spain Park (Ala.) HS (Outside Receivers) Troy Chicago Cubs Organization

2021-22 2022 2021

2019-20 2018 2014-17 2013 2011-12

Following his playing career, Banks joined the staff at Spain Park High School (201112) coaching the outside receivers, kick returners and punt returners in addition to running the junior varsity offense. Spain Park won the school’s first 6A regional championship in 2012 following a 10-3 overall record. Banks made his collegiate coaching debut the following season at Miles College (2013) where he helped lead the Golden Bears to a SIAC West Division title.

Banks earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Troy in 2008. He is married to the former Shaundra Craig and the couple has four children, Kimora, Braylon, Carter and Austin.