Oree Banks facts for kids
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1936 Newton, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1956–1958 | Kansas State |
| Position(s) | End |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1960–1962 | Coahoma |
| 1963–1964 | Grambling State (assistant) |
| 1965–1972 | South Carolina State |
| 1973–1974 | South Carolina (assistant) |
| 1975 | Virginia (assistant) |
| 1976 | Wisconsin (assistant) |
| 1977–1983 | West Virginia State |
| 1986–1989 | Marshall (assistant) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 76–63–3 (college) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 WVIAC Southern Division (1979) | |
| Awards | |
| SIAC Coach of the Year (1965) | |
Oree Banks, born around 1936, is a former American college football player and coach. He led college football teams as a head coach at South Carolina State University from 1965 to 1972 and at West Virginia State University from 1977 to 1983. Throughout his career as a head coach, his teams won 76 games, lost 63, and tied 3. Oree Banks also made history as the first African American full-time assistant coach at the University of South Carolina.
Contents
Oree Banks: A Football Journey
Oree Banks had a long and successful career in college football, first as a player and then as a coach. His journey took him to several universities, where he helped shape young athletes.
Playing Days
Before becoming a coach, Oree Banks was a football player himself. He played as an End for Kansas State from 1956 to 1958. This experience as a player likely helped him understand the game from an athlete's perspective.
Starting His Coaching Career
Banks began his coaching career in 1960. His first coaching role was at Coahoma from 1960 to 1962. He then became an assistant coach at Grambling State from 1963 to 1964. These early roles helped him gain valuable experience before becoming a head coach.
Leading College Teams
Oree Banks became a head coach at two different universities, where he achieved notable success.
South Carolina State Bulldogs
From 1965 to 1972, Banks was the head coach for the South Carolina State Bulldogs. During his time there, his teams had a strong record of 44 wins, 27 losses, and 2 ties. In 1965, he was recognized for his excellent coaching skills and was named the SIAC Coach of the Year.
West Virginia State Yellow Jackets
Later, from 1977 to 1983, Banks took on the head coaching role at West Virginia State University. His teams at West Virginia State achieved a record of 32 wins, 36 losses, and 2 ties. A highlight of this period was in 1979, when his team won the WVIAC Southern Division championship.
Making History as an Assistant Coach
After his time as a head coach at South Carolina State, Oree Banks joined the University of South Carolina as an assistant coach from 1973 to 1974. This was a significant moment because he was the first African American to be hired as a full-time assistant coach in the university's history. This was an important step forward for diversity in college sports.
Other Coaching Roles
Banks continued his career as an assistant coach at other universities. He worked at Virginia in 1975 and at Wisconsin in 1976. Later in his career, from 1986 to 1989, he served as an assistant coach for the Marshall Thundering Herd.
