Charles Bankins enters his fifth season at Vanderbilt as special teams coordinator. He will also coach running backs in 2015 for the second consecutive season.
Bankins’ young running back pupil Ralph Webb became the team’s top offensive performer in 2014, breaking Vanderbilt freshman records with 912 rushing yards on 212 carries. Webb’s rushing total ranks as the team’s seventh highest single-season total.
Since 2011, Bankins has brought solid special teams to Vanderbilt. Working with first-time starting specialists in 2014, Bankins mentored punter Colby Cooke to a 42.5-yard average and placekicker Tommy Openshaw to a field goal success rate of 72.7 percent. Kick returner Darrius Sims averaged 24.5 yards, earning second team All-SEC honors.
In 2013, senior captain Carey Spear converted 15-of-19 field goals and going 2-for-2 in field goals of 50+ yards, including a career-long of 54 yards at South Carolina. Punter Taylor Hudson averaged 42.9 yards, landing 11 of 48 punts inside the 20-yard line. Darrius Sims emerged as the go-to-guy for the Dores on kickoff returns with an average of 22.8 yards per return.
In 2012, Bankins continued his remarkable job with Vanderbilt special teams, helping Spear and punter Richard Kent both earn All-SEC recognition as the ‘Dores put together arguably the finest combined special teams effort in school history. Spear was sensational, setting school records with 20 field goals and 87 points scored by a kicker. Kent averaged 44.9 yards, the fourth highest average ever by a Commodore.
In 2011-13, Bankins also mentored Vanderbilt tight ends under James Franklin.
Bankins coached tight ends and special teams at Maryland from 2009-10. In 2010, Maryland punt returner Tony Logan earned first team All-ACC honors after leading the ACC with a 18.8-yard punt return average. In 2009, another Bankins’ standout at Maryland, Torrey Smith, earned All-ACC honors by breaking the conference single-season record for kickoff return yards. Bankins also groomed Nick Ferrara to freshman All-America honors as a placekicker in 2009.
Prior to working at Maryland, Bankins enjoyed success as an assistant at the University of Richmond from 2007-08. In Bankins’ final game as a Richmond coach, the Spiders claimed the 2008 NCAA FCS national title with a victory over Montana. ??Bankins oversaw Richmond’s superb special teams in 2008 when the Spiders ranked 27th nationally in punt returns and 22nd in kickoff coverage. In 2007, Richmond returner Justin Rogers was named the conference’s Special Teams Player of the Year after posting a 30.4-yard kickoff return average.
Bankins had two stints at Hampton University (2000-04; 2006) and spent 2005 with the St. Louis Rams. While serving as an assistant special teams coach in St. Louis, the Rams improved from 32nd to 17th in NFL special teams rankings.
Bankins also coached a year at Indiana (Pa.) University and James Madison. He started coaching at his alma mater, Leonardtown H.S., in 1995.
Bankins played running back for James Madison, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communications in 1994. He earned a master’s from Eastern Kentucky in 1998.
Bankins and his wife, Katrina, are the parents of a daughter, Ashley, and son, William.
Bankins’ Coaching Career
2014-15 – Vanderbilt – Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs
2011-13 – Vanderbilt – Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
2009-10 – Maryland – Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
2007-08 – Richmond – Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs
2006 – Hampton – Offensive Coordinator/QBs/Running Backs
2005 – St. Louis Rams – Assistant Special Teams
2000-04 – Hampton – Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator
1999 – Indiana (Pa.) – Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
1998 – James Madison – Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
1996-97 – Eastern Kentucky – Wide Receivers
1996 – Eastern Kentucky – Graduate Assistant (Offense)