Mark Banker begins his second season as the Cougars’ safeties coach.
In his first season in Pullman, the Washington State defense produced four All-Pac-12 Conference selections, including safety Daniel Isom, who earned honorable mention after making a team-high 32 tackles and saw the Cougars lead the league with eight forced fumbles in a shortened 2020 season.
Banker worked two seasons as the assistant head coach and inside linebackers coach for head coach Nick Rolovich at Hawai’i, helping UH to back-to-back bowl games, including a 10-5 mark and Hawaii Bowl win over BYU in 2019. Banker, a 40-year coaching veteran, mentored a pair of All-Mountain West Conference selections the last two seasons in Honolulu led by 2019 NFL second-round pick linebacker Jahlani Tavai who appeared in 15 games including six as a starter for the Detroit Lions as a rookie.
Prior to Hawai’i, Banker spent 20 years coaching alongside Mike Riley at Nebraska (2), OSU (14), San Diego Chargers (3), and USC (1), has been a part of eight bowl teams at OSU, two at Nebraska and compiled a combined 7-3 postseason record.
Banker served as Nebraska’s defensive coordinator from 2015-16 where his defense ranked ninth nationally in rushing yards allowed (109.8) in 2015 and was No. 14 nationally in interceptions (16) and No. 30 in total defense (363.7) in 2016.
Banker spent 12 years as Oregon State’s defensive coordinator (2003-14), turning the Beavers into one of the best defenses in the Pac-10/12. The Plymouth, Mass. native coached the linebackers and safeties at OSU and saw his 2007 defense lead the nation in rushing defense, rank eighth in total defense, fourth in sacks, and sixth in tackles for loss. The 2006 defense finished third in sacks and led the nation in tackles-for-loss yardage while the 2003 defense ranked in the Top-10 in total defense, rushing defense, and interceptions. Five of his defenders were selected in the 2009 NFL Draft while more than 70 defensive players earned all-conference honors at OSU.
Banker spent three seasons with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers (1999-2001) as the cornerbacks coach and was elevated to interim defensive coordinator midway through the 2001 season. The Chargers ranked No. 11 in the league in total defense and first in rushing defense in 2001.
Banker has also had stints with Stanford (2002), Oregon State (1997-98), USC (1996), and Cal State Northridge (1981-94), the latter of which he spent 11 years as defensive coordinator and made his first stint with Hawai’i after serving as special teams and outside linebackers coach in 1995. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Springfield College (1978-80), where he was a graduate assistant and quarterbacks and running backs coach.
Banker earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Springfield College
