In Wednesday’s edition of The Diamondback, I have a short profile of new special teams coordinator Charles Bankins. The timing was right for such a piece. Once the season starts, any focus on the special teams will likely be on the questionable kicking situation or dynamic returner Torrey Smith. But right now, the team is trying to adapt to its third coach in three years and Bankins is trying to get situated in the position after just taking over in late February.
The thing I most took away from my interview with Bankins is how different he is then outgoing coach Danny Pearman. Pearman, a longtime ACC assistant, is a good guy who has a lot of passion for the game, but he has a little bit of a gruff exterior.
Bankins is more dynamic. The day after he was hired, I reached him in his new office at Gossett Team House and he made time to answer all my questions about his past and future. He seems like he’d be a good recruiter and a good, patient teacher of the game. The players and other coaches seem to get along with him well. And although this is his first time with a major college football program, he seems to be adjusting well.
But I couldn’t find a spot in my story for my favorite Bankins moment that perhaps most illustrates my above point.
At the end of our 10+ minute interview following an 8 am weekday workout, I was drawing thin on things to ask him, but I was having so much fun in the interview, I wanted it to go on a little longer.
“Coach,” I said. “I see you got two Mountain Dews there. You need a little pick-me-up at this point in the day.”
“Nah. This one is a spare,” Bankins said, flashing a broad smile. “It’s like the two-deep on special teams. I have one, and I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.”
Of course.
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