Former Baldwin Wallace University Men's Basketball Coach and Athletic Director Steve Bankson coached the Yellow Jackets for 28 seasons and spent 27 years as athletic director at the University. He is the winningest men's basketball coach in school history and one of the most successful athletic directors at the NCAA Division III level.
"I had had the luxury, privilege and support to have been surrounded by a number of outstanding assistant coaches during my tenure at the College," said Bankson, who is the third winningest men's basketball coach in the 105-year history of the Ohio Athletic Conference with 420 victories and a 420-328 record at BW. "I had the great opportunity to coach a number of talented young men. Great players make the coach."
"I am most proud of the record that we have achieved at BW," said Bankson. "I am not talking about 420 wins at BW or 701 overall, I am talking more about the fact that 83 of the 85 young men who have played for us at BW for four years have earned their degrees. And, the other two continue to work toward that goal."
"We had many successes that include Ohio Athletic Conference titles and NCAA appearances, and our young men have achieved OAC Player of the Year, All-American and Academic All-American honors," said Bankson. "We are proud that 23 of our former student-athletes are now coaches at the high school and collegiate levels. It speaks volumes of the opportunity that BW has provided during my 28 years."
As an athletic director, Bankson has guided the Yellow Jacket program to many successes and unprecedented growth in terms of opportunities for men and women.
"We treated each program fairly and support them in any way possible," said Bankson., who spent 44 total years as a head basketball coach and 37 years as an athletic director during his career. "To the student-athletes and coaches of a particular sport, their activity is of major importance. Therefore, each team should be funded, equipped and given the opportunity to be successful."
"I feel like we have emphasized 21 sports and it has been important that each has had the opportunity to be successful," said Bankson. "The support that the College has offered in terms of budget and facilities is outstanding. We feel like each of our sports is recognized as being outstanding."
"We also have outstanding teachers who are coaches," said Bankson. "Each coach is competent and has been here a while. We are very proud of our total athletic program."
Prior to coming to BW in 1980, Bankson served as basketball coach and athletic director at Lorain County Community College for 12 years and as a coach at the high school level in both Indiana and Michigan for four years. In 44 total years as a basketball coach, Bankson has won 701 contests. His 652 wins at the college level is more than any other coach in Ohio history.
Bankson and his wife, Roselyn, reside in Elyria, Ohio and have three daughters.