Coaches Corner: Carrie Banks
1/14/2016 11:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Carrie Banks joined the Northwestern women's basketball coaching staff in July of 2013 after spending three seasons at the University of South Florida. NUSports.com sat down with the assistant coach in this week's edition of "Coaches Corner."
How did you get in to coaching?
I started at my alma mater, the University of Detroit, in 2008. That was great for me to be able to start at a place I was familiar with while I was figuring out so many things professionally.
I started there, and was there for two years. Then I went to the University of South Florida in Tampa, and it was great because we went to the NCAA Tournament in my last year, so to really be able to turn the corner with that program was really nice. Then Coach McKeown actually called me right after that time, and asked if I'd be interested in coming to Northwestern. It was a great opportunity for me to be a little more diverse in my career and to be a little closer to home (in Ohio).
It's been great to coach in the Big Ten, to be at a University with high academic standards, and to have this experience has been great for me.
What was your relationship with Coach McKeown before he contacted you?
I did not know him, but I did know of him. I did my research, I talked to a lot of people about him, and everybody had great things to say. Obviously his history and his record speaks for itself. I did a little research on the team, and knowing the talent that they had, the talent they had coming in, I knew it was a place where, kind of similar to USF, I thought they were about to turn the corner and I could really add to that with my experiences.
What attracted you to Northwestern?
It was really important to stretch myself and continue to grow. Obviously the Big Ten is a great conference, so to be able to recruit in this conference, the best athletes in the country, but to have that academic element as well, to have to seek out those specific individuals who want an environment like Northwestern, where they're going to be challenged not only on the court but in the classroom, and to be in this private school environment. I thought it was a really unique opportunity, to really challenge myself and grow professionally.
Do you feel like having those academic standards is a challenge when recruiting?
That is the fun part about recruiting and finding those unique individuals. You know right away, usually right in those first couple conversations, and how this is a kid that will really fit at Northwestern and really would appreciate and benefit from this situation. Those are the types of kids that you really have a connection with, and just feel like, wow, this kid can really help us.
You played professionally overseas for a bit, right?
I played for a year in Portugal. Amazing experience. The furthest I had been out of the country had just been Canada and Mexico, so to be able to go across the water, it really opens your eyes. To get an appreciation for their lifestyle, it was awesome. It was humbling as well, as most of them spoke English, and I didn't speak another language. Obviously to continue to play basketball was good, and the style was a little different, so to be able to see that and grow from that was incredible.
When was the "aha" moment of when you knew you wanted to be a coach?
I think that first year after playing I was just trying to figure so many things out. My voice, my style. The schedule of it is so hectic, with recruiting and travel. I don't know if there was an exact moment, but maybe in that second or third year of coaching, I was like, this is something that I really want to do long term. I feel complete in this profession, and it is something that I really enjoy. The relationships you build with the student-athletes, being able to see them grow and develop, I think that's why I'm in to this.
Most of these players won't go on to play professionally, and you've had experience as a player, coach, and being out in the business world. Does that experience help you as a mentor?
I think it does. I try to encourage them to play for as long as they can. They have a phenomenal education that Northwestern will provide, so every student-athlete has multiple options. If there are a lot of things out there that would make you feel happy, you are young enough, you are intelligent and educated, go do it while you are young, go explore it.
Do you have a favorite coaching memory?
I don't know if there's one memory that I can just say is my favorite. When you see the lightbulb go off with an athlete, after spending hours with them working on whatever it is they are trying to develop - those are special moments.
What's your favorite part about the Chicago/Evanston area?
There is so much to do. Even in the summer, if I'm just walking around downtown, there is an energy about this town that is just fun to see.
If you had one day, with no responsibilities, just a treat your self day, what would you do?
I would probably sleep in. I like going to the beach, so I'd probably do that. I would just relax and see my family. To be honest, I would probably drive home to family, in Ohio.
If you didn't play basketball, what sport would you have played?
I probably have ran track. I ran track in high school, I actually got recruited to run track in college, but I would just rather play basketball.
What did you want to be when you grow up?
A lawyer. My dad's a lawyer, my brother's a lawyer-it was a lot of pressure.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Everywhere. But If I had to choose one, Australia would be cool, maybe Africa.
How did you get in to coaching?
I started at my alma mater, the University of Detroit, in 2008. That was great for me to be able to start at a place I was familiar with while I was figuring out so many things professionally.
I started there, and was there for two years. Then I went to the University of South Florida in Tampa, and it was great because we went to the NCAA Tournament in my last year, so to really be able to turn the corner with that program was really nice. Then Coach McKeown actually called me right after that time, and asked if I'd be interested in coming to Northwestern. It was a great opportunity for me to be a little more diverse in my career and to be a little closer to home (in Ohio).
It's been great to coach in the Big Ten, to be at a University with high academic standards, and to have this experience has been great for me.
What was your relationship with Coach McKeown before he contacted you?
I did not know him, but I did know of him. I did my research, I talked to a lot of people about him, and everybody had great things to say. Obviously his history and his record speaks for itself. I did a little research on the team, and knowing the talent that they had, the talent they had coming in, I knew it was a place where, kind of similar to USF, I thought they were about to turn the corner and I could really add to that with my experiences.
What attracted you to Northwestern?
It was really important to stretch myself and continue to grow. Obviously the Big Ten is a great conference, so to be able to recruit in this conference, the best athletes in the country, but to have that academic element as well, to have to seek out those specific individuals who want an environment like Northwestern, where they're going to be challenged not only on the court but in the classroom, and to be in this private school environment. I thought it was a really unique opportunity, to really challenge myself and grow professionally.
Do you feel like having those academic standards is a challenge when recruiting?
That is the fun part about recruiting and finding those unique individuals. You know right away, usually right in those first couple conversations, and how this is a kid that will really fit at Northwestern and really would appreciate and benefit from this situation. Those are the types of kids that you really have a connection with, and just feel like, wow, this kid can really help us.
You played professionally overseas for a bit, right?
I played for a year in Portugal. Amazing experience. The furthest I had been out of the country had just been Canada and Mexico, so to be able to go across the water, it really opens your eyes. To get an appreciation for their lifestyle, it was awesome. It was humbling as well, as most of them spoke English, and I didn't speak another language. Obviously to continue to play basketball was good, and the style was a little different, so to be able to see that and grow from that was incredible.
When was the "aha" moment of when you knew you wanted to be a coach?
I think that first year after playing I was just trying to figure so many things out. My voice, my style. The schedule of it is so hectic, with recruiting and travel. I don't know if there was an exact moment, but maybe in that second or third year of coaching, I was like, this is something that I really want to do long term. I feel complete in this profession, and it is something that I really enjoy. The relationships you build with the student-athletes, being able to see them grow and develop, I think that's why I'm in to this.
Most of these players won't go on to play professionally, and you've had experience as a player, coach, and being out in the business world. Does that experience help you as a mentor?
I think it does. I try to encourage them to play for as long as they can. They have a phenomenal education that Northwestern will provide, so every student-athlete has multiple options. If there are a lot of things out there that would make you feel happy, you are young enough, you are intelligent and educated, go do it while you are young, go explore it.
Do you have a favorite coaching memory?
I don't know if there's one memory that I can just say is my favorite. When you see the lightbulb go off with an athlete, after spending hours with them working on whatever it is they are trying to develop - those are special moments.
What's your favorite part about the Chicago/Evanston area?
There is so much to do. Even in the summer, if I'm just walking around downtown, there is an energy about this town that is just fun to see.
If you had one day, with no responsibilities, just a treat your self day, what would you do?
I would probably sleep in. I like going to the beach, so I'd probably do that. I would just relax and see my family. To be honest, I would probably drive home to family, in Ohio.
If you didn't play basketball, what sport would you have played?
I probably have ran track. I ran track in high school, I actually got recruited to run track in college, but I would just rather play basketball.
What did you want to be when you grow up?
A lawyer. My dad's a lawyer, my brother's a lawyer-it was a lot of pressure.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Everywhere. But If I had to choose one, Australia would be cool, maybe Africa.
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