The Banks File

Personal Information
Birthday	Nov. 4
Hometown	Melvin, Ala.
Education	Troy, 2008 (Bachelor's)
Playing Career	Troy, 2004-07 Chicago Cubs Organization, 2000-03
Wife	Shaundra
Children	Kimora, Braylon, Carter, Austin

Coaching History
2022-25	Troy - Wide Receivers
2021	Troy - Outside Receivers
2019-20	Choctaw County (Ala.) HS - Head Coach
2018	Foley (Ala.) HS - Offensive Coordinator / Wide Receivers
2014-17	Florence (Ala.) HS - Offensive Coordinator / Wide Receivers
2013	Miles College - Receivers
2011-12	Spain Park (Ala.) HS - Outside Receivers

Trojan great Gary Banks begins his fifth season on the Troy staff in 2024 and fourth coaching the Trojan receivers after coaching the outside receivers in 2021. Banks won a pair of Sun Belt titles and played in two bowl games during his playing career for the Trojans before going on to a career in the NFL.

Troy has won a pair of Sun Belt championships during his four-year tenure, and four of his players have earned All-SBC honors. Banks has been tested during his Troy career having to replace the Trojans’ leading receiver in three of his four seasons.

Under Banks’ leadership, back-to-back Trojans have totaled at least 999 yards, with Jabre Barber hitting the mark in 2023 and Devote Ross becoming just the sixth Trojan to reach the 1,000-yard threshold when he did it in 2024.

Ross finished the regular season leading the Sun Belt and ranking fifth nationally with 11 touchdown reception; he finished the season with 76 catches for 1,043 yards, the sixth and fourth most in a season in Troy history, respectively.

In 2023, Chris Lewis tied for 16th nationally with 10 touchdown receptions during his first season with the program, while 10 different Trojans caught a touchdown pass, and Troy's receiver group ranked 15th in the country and third among the Group of Five per Pro Football Focus.

In 2022, Banks and the Trojans finished the season ranked in a major poll for the first time in program history, checking in at No. 19 in the AP Top 25 and No. 20 in the USA Today/Coaches Poll. Additionally, Troy's appearance in the Coaches Poll and College Football Playoff Poll after its Sun Belt Championship Game victory were also firsts for the program.

Troy hosted and appeared in the Sun Belt Championship Game for the first time, reached the 12-win mark at the FBS level for the first time and hosted Army in front of a Veterans Memorial Stadium record crowd of more than 31,000 fans.

Transfer receiver RaJae’ Johnson had a career year in his lone season under Banks’ guidance ranking eighth nationally (min. 50 targets) with a 141.6 receiving rating per Pro Football Focus, while Tez Johnson led the country with a 90.5 receiver rating and ranked second behind Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., with an 89.9 overall offensive rating.

RaJae' Johnson ranked fourth in the Sun Belt with seven touchdown receptions in 2022, while Tez Johnson was an All-Sun Belt performer in 2021 after finishing second in the league in receptions.

Banks joins the Troy staff following two seasons as the head football and baseball coach and athletics director at Choctaw County High School in Butler, Ala. Prior to that, he spent the 2018 season as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Foley High School following four seasons (2014-17) at Florence High School.

In his first season at Florence, the Falcons posted an 11-3 record, won a district title and advanced to the Alabama 6A semifinals. Banks served as Florence’s offensive coordinator, quarterback coach and assistant head coach during his tenure in addition to working with the punt and kickoff returners.

A three-time All-Sun Belt selection for the Trojans, Banks currently ranks seventh all-time in Troy history with 155 career receptions and 14th in both receiving yards (1,625) and touchdown receptions (13). A native of Melvin, Ala., Banks joined the Troy program after playing Minor League Baseball in the Chicago Cubs organization for three years; he was selected by the Cubs in the fifth round of the 2000 MLB Draft.

Banks was a member of Troy’s first Division I bowl team (2004 Silicon Valley Classic) and led the Trojans in receiving in both 2006 and 2007; the first two of Troy’s five straight Sun Belt Conference titles. Banks caught the game-winning touchdown pass with 14 seconds remaining in the “Miracle at Murfreesboro” in 2006 as Troy rallied from a 13-point deficit late in the fourth quarter against Middle Tennessee.

Banks signed a free agent deal with the San Diego Chargers following his Troy career and spent three years with the organization and made his active roster debut in 2010 where he played in a pair of games.

Following his playing career, Banks joined the staff at Spain Park High School (2011-12) coaching the outside receivers, kick returners and punt returners in addition to running the junior varsity offense. Spain Park won the school’s first 6A regional championship in 2012 following a 10-3 overall record. Banks made his collegiate coaching debut the following season at Miles College (2013) where he helped lead the Golden Bears to a SIAC West Division title.

Banks earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Troy in 2008. He is married to the former Shaundra Craig and the couple has four children, Kimora, Braylon, Carter and Austin.