Banks says skies the limit as new Hawks head coach

Centerville native takes over for Nick Ehret as Central Lee head football coach

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG
PCC EDITOR

DONNELLSON - A familiar face will be donning a cap a whistle this year for the Central Lee football program.

Chuck Banks has accepted the position as head football coach following the departure of Nick Ehret after three years.

Banks has been with the program for about seven years after putting in 10 years under head coach Jim Knott at Centerville. Banks' first five years with Central Lee were under storied head coach Randy Hoffman when the Hawk's compiled a 25-23 mark. Banks first year with Hoffman in 2012 was an 0-9 season, but just three years later the Hawks made the state playoffs and then went again in 2016.

Banks said he's learned a lot about coaching philosophy from Hoffman and Knott.

"Hoffman, he's kinda the end of an era when you look at old school coaching. He was tough but he still loved his kids. He was about building relationships, as was Knott in Centerville. Both of them were about building relationships and being there for the kids even beyond the field," Banks said.

The Hawks went just 2-7 last fall after going winless in 2018. Banks said he has no preconceived notions about the team and the 2-16 record over the past two years didn't intimidate him at all.

"There was no coercion here whatsoever," the Centerville native said. "I didn't need to be pushed into this job. I had always had a inkling I would get back into football. It's something I loved."

Banks said he had to tackle a health issue during the 2019 season and took a year off. He said he watched his daughter as a cheerleader in 2019 and lost some weight and is now ready to get back into the game.

The Hawks will complete in Class 1A, District 7 in 2020. The Hawks were 2-4 against teams in that district last year, with wins over Eddyville/Blakesburg/Fremont and Davis County to end the year.

Banks said he's looking forward to the schedule this year, a schedule he thinks could be very balanced with Pekin opening the year.

"They'll be well-coached and run a power game and push the ball," Banks said. "But we get Van Buren again this year and when you think back to the old days they were kind of a rival. That's awesome and it's good to have them back."

He said Cardinal will be a wild card with some really good athletes, but Mid Prairie and Williamsburg always comes with a strong team.

Although this will be Banks' first year as football head coach at the varsity level, he's had stints as a head coach in other sports and was the Activities Director at Central Lee prior to Jerry Ireland's arrival four years ago.

Banks also has a coaching podcast with Fort Madison head coach Derek Doherty and said he considers Doherty a close personal friend who's building a strong program at Fort Madison.

"I can only hope that I'm heading down that path. I coach with high energy and intensity, and even the kid that may not have at the greatest skill level gets the same coaching from me as the best athlete."

Banks said despite losing 10 seniors from last fall's squad he said the staff and students are excited about the 2020 season and hope the coronavirus doesn't interfere with the fall program.

State officials have said information on the summer sports season won't be released until June 1.

"I think it very well could have an impact when you look at all the unknowns that are out there," Banks said. "I've reached out to some students and athletes and there is a growing concern of that unknown. But the sporting world and the world in general will be forever changed."

Aside from those unknowns, there are some things he's pretty certain about going into his first year.

"I think the skies the limit. I'm hearing from a lot of kids who are excited and the staff is excited," Banks said. "Now I'm not going mention what offense or defense we'll work at this point, but I have a lot of great ideas to shore us up."

He said the goal every year is to hit a winning season and then progress and go as far as you can.

"I'm totally optimistic about who we have. Johnny Schneider is a fast kid who was hurt last year and he'll be ready. Bryce Finney is another underclassman who could pay huge dividends along with a lot of other youngsters out there," he said.

Connor Moor is a senior lineman who Banks said could provide influence offensively.

"A lot of kids have the ability and if they buy into the system they will be just fine."

Balance is the key to his style of play, Banks said. But he said they will probably be a little more run heavy than pass.

"But what you see is what you get, and week in and week out you have to deal that."