Former Illinois co-defensive coordinator brings 20 years of coaching experience to the Nittany Lions
 
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Jan. 18, 2016 – Penn State head coach James Franklin announced coaching veteran Tim Banks as the Nittany Lions’ co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. Banks has 20 years of coaching experience, including nine as a defensive coordinator. He most recently spent four seasons at Illinois as the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach.
 
“I am excited to have Tim join our Penn State Football family,” Franklin said. “Tim and I worked together at Maryland and built a great relationship there. He is a veteran coach with experience as a Big Ten coordinator and has strong Big Ten and regional recruiting ties. He is a fantastic person and will have a strong impact on our players and our program. We would like to welcome Tim and his wife, Robin, to Happy Valley.”
 
“I am excited about having an opportunity to work with Coach Franklin and his staff,” Banks said. “James is one of the brightest football minds in the country and it was just an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. Growing up in the Midwest, I saw Penn State play on TV almost every weekend and I know the history and tradition that this program has, so this is very much an honor and a humbling experience to join the Penn State family.”
 
Banks joins the Nittany Lions after spending the last four seasons at Illinois as the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach. He helped the Fighting Illini to the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl in 2014.
 
In 2015, the Fighting Illini finished 15th in FBS in passing yards allowed (184.4) and 21st in team passing efficiency defense (112.24). Banks mentored safety Taylor Barton and defensive back V’Angelo Bentley to All-Big Ten honorable mention accolades. Under Banks’ tutelage, three members of the 2012 Illini defense were selected in the 2013 NFL Draft, including defensive back Terry Hawthorne, who was a fifth round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. 
 
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 made significant improvement on defense, including finishing sixth in rushing defense the country, ninth in turnover margin and second in sacks in 2011. The Bearcats forced 33 turnovers that season. The defensive success helped propel Cincinnati to a win in the 2011 AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
 
While at Cincinnati, Banks tutored defensive back Drew Frey to first team All-Big East accolades in 2011. Banks was also honored for his work during the 2011 season as he was a nominee for the Frank Broyles Award for the nation’s top assistant coach. He helped the Bearcats improve from 4-8 in 2010 to a 10-3 mark in 2011.
 
Banks spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator at his alma mater, Central Michigan, helping the Chippewas win two Mid-American Conference titles. CMU led the Mid-American Conference in scoring defense (18.9), ranked second in rushing defense (122.8) and third in pass efficiency defense (117.4) in 2009. The defense led the 2009 Chippewas to a 12-2 overall record and the MAC Championship with an 8-0 mark, with an appearance in the 2010 GMAC Bowl.
 
In addition to the 2010 GMAC Bowl appearance, Banks helped Central Michigan to the 2007 and 2008 Motor City Bowl. In 2007, cornerback Josh Gordy tied the CMU interceptions record with three against Army.
 
Banks spent four seasons at Maryland, serving as the inside linebackers coach from 2003-05 and the defensive backs coach in 2006. He helped the Terps to the 2006 Champs Sports Bowl and the 2004 Gator Bowl. Banks and Franklin worked together for two seasons (2003-04) at Maryland when Franklin was the wide receivers coach and Banks was the inside linebackers coach.
 
Under Banks’ guidance, linebacker D’Qwell Jackson was a three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection, earning first team accolades in 2004-05 and second team honors in 2003. He was also the 2005 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Bednarik Award in 2005 as the nation’s top defensive player. Jackson was a second-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns in the 2006 NFL Draft. Banks also coached NFL Draft picks linebacker David Holloway and cornerback Josh Wilson during his time with the Terps.
 
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). At Memphis, the Tigers were ninth in FBS in pass defense in 2002.
 
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.
 
Banks graduated from Central Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in industrial management in 1995. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Banks graduated from Martin Luther King High School.
 
Tim Banks Coaching Experience
2012-15: Illinois – Co-Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach
2010-11: Cincinnati – Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach
2007-09: Central Michigan – Defensive Coordinator
2003-06: Maryland – Defensive Backs Coach (2006); Inside Linebackers Coach (2003-05)
2001-02: Memphis – Defensive Backs Coach (2002); Outside Linebacker Coach (2001)
1999-00: Bowling Green – Defensive Backs Coach (2000); Running Backs Coach (1999)
1997-98: Ferris State – Defensive Backs Coach
1996: Bowling Green – Graduate Assistant