Tsai wrote:Once the paper work is finalized — and that could come as early as this morning — Mark Banker is expected to join the Warriors as assistant head coach and linebackers coach. Here’s why this is a good move for the Warriors:
> Experience: Banker was defensive coordinator for Nebraska, Oregon State and the San Diego Chargers, as well as assistant head coach at USC and Stanford.
> Hawaii ties: Banker coached linebackers and special teams in 1995, Bob Wagner’s final UH staff. Wagner praised Banker’s coaching ability, character and affinity for Hawaii. At his ensuing college stops, Banker was used as the point recruiter in Hawaii. He has built and maintained relationships with local coaches and families. I’ve spoken to several people who insist Banker loves to recruit — and he loves to recruit local kids.
> Win-win: Head coach Nick Rolovich had two good choices for defensive coordinator — Corey Batoon and Banker. He managed to land both — with Batoon as the DC and Banker as a top assistant. According to Wagner, Batoon and Banker have known each other since Batoon was a JC player and Banker was coaching at Cal State Northridge.
> Balance: At the end of the 2017 season, no member of the coaching staff was older than late 30s. Batoon is 49, Banker is 61. UH has a nice balance of experience.
coaching experience was a glaring weakness last season and Rolo went ahead and addressed that weakness and brought in two very experienced coaches with good ties to Hawaii. We went from a first-time DC to having two guys on staff with DC experience at the FBS level. Pretty good haul so far, in my opinion.
So, the next two hires should be on the offensive side of the ball, no?
They need the experience on the field that Banker apparently seem to have. What I saw last year was lack of fire from the coaching staff. Hopefully they can bring the fire on the sidelines and not have to suspend players (experience in dealing with college athletes).
BigWave96744 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 05, 2018 8:47 am
Huge upgrade for the coaching staff.
Banker alone was responsible for many local boys going to Oregon St. He will help keep some local talent home.
So no more talk of Mark Banker poaching recruits from UH.
Seriously, though, the knowledge and experience of the coaching on the defensive side of the ball has gone up exponentially. In addition, the returnees and recent signees give the defensive coaches talent to work with and perhaps will make them look like geniuses.