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A veteran coach both on the collegiate and professional levels, Mark Banker brings24 years of experience to Buddy Teevens' staff at Stanford. Along with TomWilliams, Banker will assume the role of co-Defensive Coordinator. Banker willalso coach the defensive secondary.
For the past three seasons, Banker was on Mike Riley's staff with the SanDiego Chargers (as was Cardinal offensive coordinator Mike Sanford). Banker wasthe Charger's cornerbacks coach from 1999-2001 and, midway through the '01season, he was elevated to interim defensive coordinator. Under Banker, the Chargerdefense led the NFL in yards per rush (3.3), ranked 11th in total defense (306.5ypg), 13th in takeaways and 16th in scoring defense (19.8 ppg). While at San Diego,Banker also coached cornerback Ryan McNeil, who earned a Pro Bowl berth in 2002after finishing in a tie for third in the league with eight interceptions.
Banker worked under Riley at Oregon State in 1997 and '98. He was the secondarycoach both seasons and the recruiting coordinator in 1998. Banker recruited andcoached Dennis Weathersby, who went on to become one of the top cornerbacks inthe Pacific-10 Conference.
While at OSU, Banker helped the Beavers to an 8-14 record, including 3-8 in 1997and 5-6 in '98. The five wins in 1998 marked the best season at OSU in 27years. Many of the players recruited to OSU during this time went on help theBeavers finish 7-5 in 1999 and 11-1 in 2000.
Prior to spending five years under Riley at Oregon State and San Diego, Bankerspent one season working with the defensive line and linebackers as a defensiveassistant at USC (1996). There, Banker coached Trojan greats and future NFL playersChris Clairborne and Sammy Knight.
Banker spent one season (1995) at Hawaii, coaching outside linebackers and specialteams, before moving to USC.
From 1981-94, Banker was the defensive coordinator at Cal State Northridge, aDivision II program in southern California. In 1989, Banker's defense ledthe nation in total defense while the Matadors reached the NCAA Division II playoffsfor the first time in school history. Some of the top players who worked underBanker include All-America cornerback Kip Dukes, former NFL safety Ron Fosterand cornerback Steve Benjamin.
Banker began his coaching career at his alma mater, Springfield College in Massachusetts,in 1978 as a graduate assistant. He spent the next two years (1979-80) coachingquarterbacks and running backs at Springfield.
Born in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Banker was a three-sport starin football, ice hockey and baseball at Plymouth-Carver High School. He earned11 varsity letters in high school, including four in football, four in hockeyand three in baseball. He was the captain of the hockey and baseball teams asa senior.
He lettered for three seasons (1975-77) as a running back at Springfield College,where he earned a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1978.
Banker and his wife, Debbie, have three children: Chris (born March 14, 1985),Jayme and Kelsey .
Coaching Assignments
- 1978 Springfield College - Graduate Assistant
- 1979-80 Springfield College - QB / RB
- 1981-94 Cal State Northridge - Defensive Coord.
- 1995 Hawaii - OLB / Special Teams
- 1996 USC - Defensive Assistant (LB/DL)
- 1997-98 Oregon State - Defensive Backs
- 1999-01 San Diego Chargers - Cornerbacks
Prominent Players Coached
- Ron Foster, FS, Cal State Northridge
- Kip Dukes, CB, Cal State Northridge
- Steve Benjamin, CB, Cal State Northridge
- Sammy Knight, LB, USC
- Chris Clairborne, LB, USC
- Dennis Weathersby, CB, Oregon State
- Ryan McNeil, CB, San Diego Chargers
The Banker File
- Full Name: Mark John Banker
- Hometown: Plymouth, Massachusetts
- High School: Plymouth-Carver (Massachusetts)
- College: Springfield College, 1978 (B.A., Physical Education)
- Wife: Debbie
- Children: Chris, Jayme, Kelsey
- Playing Experience: RB, Springfield College, 1975-77