“Jeff Banks and the UTEP coaching staff have led the Miners to it's winningest five-year period in the modern era of UTEP football history. UTEP has appeared in two bowl games, earned national top-25 rankings, and had over 40 All-Conference selections.”

“Jeff Banks wears four hats as a member of the UTEP staff. He coaches the running backs and punters, and also serves as the team's special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator.”

“Most recently Banks has aided in the development of Donald Buckram, who broke a UTEP single-season rushing record that had stood for over 60 years in 2009. Buckram went over the century mark in eight of 12 games en route to tallying 1,594 yards -- eclipsing the previous school standard of 1,546 yards, established by Fred Wendt in 1948. Buckram ranked third nationally in scoring (10.5 ppg) and fourth in rushing yards per game (132.8), while winning the Conference USA individual rushing title. He was one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award.”

“Banks also coached Marcus Thomas from 2004-07, who ended his career as the Miners' fifth all-time leading rusher (2,615 yards), third in school history in rushing touchdowns (26), fourth in 100-yard games (11) and seventh in all-purpose yards (3,660). ”

“Banks' first season coaching the Miner running backs and punters was quite a success. He mentored Bryce Benekos, who finished seventh in the nation in punting, as well as Howard Jackson, who was 25th in the country in rushing. Both players earned first team All-WAC honors under Banks' tutelage. Jackson ended his career as UTEP's second all-time leading rusher with 3,466 yards. Both Benekos and Jackson signed NFL free agent contracts at season's end.”

“Banks coached a pair of 500-yard running backs in 2005. Late in the season, Thomas set a school record by rushing for 100 yards in four straight games. He ended the year with a team-leading 791 yards on 149 carries. Tyler Ebell, who began the year as the starting tailback before having his season cut short due to injury, still managed to earn third team All-Conference honors. He rushed for 536 yards, moving over the 2,000-yard mark for his career.”