BANKS: I am ready to hit the ground running
Eastern Florida State College named Zack Banks the new women’s basketball coach. Banks comes to the Titans from Northwest Florida State College, where he was an associate head coach for the past three seasons. He won two NJCAA Division I National Championships during his two stints with the Raiders. (Image for SCD)
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Eastern Florida State College named Zack Banks the new women’s basketball coach.
Banks comes to the Titans from Northwest Florida State College, where he was an associate head coach for the past three seasons. During his two stints with the Raiders, he won two NJCAA Division I National Championships.
“I had never really thought about being a head coach lately, just been happy at NWF and working with an amazing boss (Bart Walker) but the opportunity presented itself at the right time after winning a national title at Northwest and I just felt like it was the right time for me to go and to get to stay in the state and follow MJ (Baker) who did a heck of a job here, why not – it is a great opportunity,” Banks said.
He was also an assistant coach at New Mexico State University for a season before returning to Northwest Florida State College as the associate head coach. He has been to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament six times as an assistant coach.
Banks takes over after MJ Baker led the program for eight seasons, finishing with 183 wins and won 76.8 percent of her games. She led the program to the national tournament three times. He wants to continue building on that success while putting his own stamp on the program.
“Offensively, fast. Athletic. I like to get up and down the floor and give the fans something fun to watch. Defensively, being aggressive and really being athletic. I want to be athletic at all five spots and be versatile,” Banks said.
The Toledo, Ohio, native began his coaching career in Tennessee, helping the Blackman High School girls basketball team to a state championship in 2015.
He will take over a Titans team that was 22-9 last season and had 13 wins in the Citrus Conference.
“I am ready to hit the ground running,” Banks said. “It is a game that I love, and I study a lot and feel like I am prepared for it. I am really excited to get started.”