To go along with the excitement leading up to the start of Southeastern’s men’s basketball season, the Lions received some positive news. Associate head coach Roman Banks was designated top assistant coach in the Southland Conference by FoxSports.com, in Jeff Goodman’s Yardbarker.com blog, on Tuesday, Nov. 2. His extensive life history with basketball is evidence that Banks is befitting of this recognition.

This is Banks’ eighth season at Southeastern, and his sixth season as associate head coach. According to “Banks Named Top Southland Assistant by FoxSports.com,” a November 9 press release, Banks is originally from Shreveport, La., started at Southeastern in 2003 and assisted the Lions to the NCAA Championships in 2005. Banks began his coaching career at Green Oaks High School in Shreveport, and then joined the staff of Southern University at Shreveport (SUSLA) for six years, where he was athletic director and men’s head basketball coach. He is also considered as one of the top recruiters in Louisiana.

According to “2010-11 Men’s Basketball Coaching Staff,” www.lionsports.net/coaches, Banks was a three-time All-District 2-4A selection at Captain Shreve High School in Shreveport and continued to play basketball at Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA) in Natchitoches, La. At Northwestern Banks was the all-time assist leader, named honorable mention All-Southland Conference and was a third-team All-Louisiana selection by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. He was also named to the All-Southland Conference second team in 1989, helping the Demons reach their first winning season in five years.

The title given to Banks in the Yardbarker.com blog can be viewed at jeffgoodman.yardbarker.com/blog/jeffgoodman/

top_assistants_rundown_continues_with_southland. Goodman is a college basketball sports writer who authors the Yardbarker.com blog. He constructed a poll for each of the roughly 25-30 conferences in the country, and these polls were voted on by at least 75 percent of the coaches in the 12-team league.

Men’s basketball head coach Jim Yarbrough mentioned several roles filled by coach Banks and his unique traits which contributed to his designation of top assistant.

“Roman has tremendous experience, is a consummate professional and can handle all facets of a program – he’s good with people and players, recruits, can teach, develops talent, schedules, community service, just great knowledge of the business,” stated Yarbrough in the November 9 press release. “He’s particularly strong in this area and this league.”

Assistant men’s basketball coach Larry Cordaro has worked with Banks for five years, and was not surprised to hear that Banks was chosen as top assistant coach. From Cordaro’s understanding, this is the first time the poll has been created.

“I think he deserves it because he put in the time here,” said Cordaro. “A lot of coaches will bounce around from one school to the next, but he came here when basketball was not so good and he’s been able to get the program to a level of consistent success. He works very hard, he’s loyal, he has the student-athletes’ best interest at heart and he’s an all around good person.”

In Cordaro’s opinion this recognition exemplifies Banks as an individual, something more profound than simply his job as a coach.

“It shows respect,” said Cordaro. “That we’ve been doing a great job of recruiting student-athletes and developing players on the court and people off the court; so it’s not just basketball, I think it speaks for the character that coach Banks has and what the players mean to him.”

In addition to acknowledging Banks’ accomplishments, this honor represents how far Southeastern’s basketball program has progressed as a whole.

“It says a lot about coach Banks as a coach, but it also says a lot about where Southeastern is in the framework of the Southland Conference and what coach Yarbrough’s been able to build,” said Alexander Hausladen, assistant men’s basketball coach, who has worked with Banks for two years. “This recognition highlights what coach Yarbrough and coach Banks have been able to do, and for ourselves as one of the top programs in the Southland Conference and in the state of Louisiana.”

Hausladen alluded to a characteristic of Banks that distinguishes him from the other assistants in the poll, his well-rounded involvement not only with Southeastern, but with the surrounding community as well.

“He’s a pivotal person involved in everything – recruiting, day-to-day coaching and practicing,” said Hausladen. “Anyone who makes the list is clearly a great coach, but the thing about coach Banks, what makes him so special, is the level of expertise and energy that he brings to the program on a daily basis and just how identifiable he is on campus and on the university level.”

Banks is pleased to have received this title; however, as his fellow coaches explained, the team is of more significance to him than his individual achievements.

“He’s excited, but at the same time he’s not into personal accomplishments,” said Cordaro. “He’s more concerned about our team and the season we’re approaching now and the success of the team.”

“Coach Banks is a guy who works real hard, and I think clearly he’s happy he was recognized, but we haven’t talked about it much,” said Hausladen. “It’s recognition but it’s something that in some ways is like winning a game – it’s great that you won that game, but you use it as an opportunity to move forward.”

With a modest attitude Banks explained that while he is appreciative of receiving this award, his major concern is ensuring that he fulfills his role in contributing to a winning season.

“I won’t say that it’s life and death important to me, but I think it’s great when you try and put your heart and soul in something and you get benefits from it,” said Banks. “It’s not all about Roman. I think it’s about the great situation here at Southeastern for the faculty, school, administration and athletic department.”

Banks also has an optimistic attitude towards the Lions’ success this season.

“For the first time in a long time I think we have a good number of guys returning, and I think that they give us a great chance every night to win ball games,” said Banks. “Over time Southeastern has been at the top of the league. We always make the Conference tournament and we’ve been a consistent winner. I think this team has a very good chance to win the whole conference tournament this year.”

The Lions embarked upon their 2010-11 season on Friday, Nov. 12 at 7:45 p.m. in a game against Millsaps College. For a complete schedule, visit www.lionsports.net/schedule.