Ephraim Banda (Ef-rum Bon-duh), who has 11 years of collegiate coaching experience, is in his second season as Utah State’s defensive coordinator and safeties coach. In each of his previous 10 seasons, Banda has coached in a bowl game.
In 2021, Utah State had its best season in school history as it tied the school record with 11 wins (11-3), won its first-ever Mountain West Championship with a 46-13 road win at No. 19 San Diego State, posted a 24-13 win against Oregon State in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl and finished the season ranked 24th in the nation in both polls.
Under Banda’s guidance, Utah State’s defense held each of its final three opponents to 13 or fewer points, doing so for the first time since 1983, and five of its last six opponents to 17 or fewer points.
Utah State’s defense finished tied for second in the nation with 114.0 tackles for loss, which is also tied for the second-most in school history. And, USU limited its opponents to just 22 touchdowns on 51 trips into the red zone (.431), which ranked 10th nationally.
Additionally, Utah State’s defense ranked fourth in the nation in fourth down conversion percentage (.250), eighth nationally with 11 forced fumbles and 27th in the nation in third down conversion percentage (.346).
Under Banda, senior safety Shaq Bond earned honorable mention all-MW honors for the third-straight season.
Banda came to Utah State after spending the previous five seasons as the safeties coach for the Miami Hurricanes, including serving as co-defensive coordinator the last two years. During his tenure at Miami, he coached five defensive backs that went on to the NFL in Jamal Carter (Atlanta Falcons), Adrian Colbert (New York Giants), Rayshawn Jenkins (Los Angeles Chargers), Jaquan Johnson (Buffalo Bills) and Sheldrick Redwine (Cleveland Browns).
In his last two recruiting cycles at Miami, Banda landed the No. 1-ranked safety in the nation and was named one of the top-25 recruiters in the country by Rivals.com.
During the 2020 campaign, Banda helped coordinate a Hurricanes defense that led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in yards per pass attempt (6.75), and ranked fourth nationally in tackles for loss (8.6 pg), 16th in fumbles recovered (9) and 33rd in sacks (2.73 pg). Miami finished the season with an 8-3 record (7-2 ACC) and played in the Cheez-It Bowl.
Miami also had four players earn all-ACC honors in 2020, including safety Bubba Bolden, who was a Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist as the nation’s top defensive back, and was named the ACC Defensive Back of the Week twice, along with garnering ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors once.
In 2019, Banda helped coordinate a Miami defense that ranked 13th nationally in total defense (309.8 ypg) and 12th nationally in yards per play allowed (4.7). In addition, the Hurricanes ranked fourth nationally in tackles for loss (8.3 pg), sixth in sacks (3.54 pg), 17th in run defense (114.6. ypg) and 18th in pass defense (195.2 ypg).
In 2018, the Hurricanes ranked fourth nationally in total defense (278.9 ypg) and first overall in several categories, including tackles for loss (10.5 pg), third down conversion percentage (.253) and passing defense (135.6 ypg). In 2018, Johnson (second team) and Redwine (honorable mention) both earned all-conference honors.
Continuing the impressive trends from Banda’s first year on the defensive staff, the Hurricanes ranked among the nation’s leaders in several defensive categories in 2017, including first in team sacks (3.38 pg), third in turnovers gained (31), fourth in tackles for loss (8.5 pg), ninth in opponent yards per play (4.3), 15th in passes intercepted (17) and 16th in passing yards allowed per attempt (5.56). Three members of the Hurricanes’ secondary earned all-ACC recognition in 2017 in Michael Jackson (second team), Johnson (second team) and Malek Young (honorable mention).
Under Banda’s watch, Johnson was named ACC Defensive Back of the Week three straight weeks and was one of just four defensive players nationwide to be named a Walter Camp Player of the Year semifinalist. Johnson was also named a second-team All-American and was a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist.
Miami’s defensive backfield enjoyed vast improvements under Banda’s watch in 2016, with senior Rayshawn Jenkins earning all-ACC honorable mention recognition. At the conclusion of the 2016 season, Miami was ranked No. 20 nationally in total defense, No. 9 in yards per play, No. 12 in scoring defense, No. 5 in tackles for loss, No. 22 in team sacks and tied for No. 8 in defensive touchdowns allowed. The Hurricanes also ranked 12th nationally in passing yards allowed per attempt (6.30).
Banda spent the 2015 season as a defensive assistant at Mississippi State, helping the Bulldogs to a 9-4 record and victory against North Carolina State in the Belk Bowl. The Bulldogs’ defensive unit held opponents to just 23.2 points per game and ranked in the nation’s top 10 in red zone defense. In addition, MSU led the nation in fewest pass plays of 20-plus yards allowed with 24. Before arriving in Starkville, Mississippi, Banda spent three seasons as a defensive graduate assistant at Texas from 2012-15.
During his tenure at Texas, Banda coached first-round NFL Draft pick Kenny Vaccaro (Tennessee Titans), along with two more NFL players in Quandre Diggs (Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks) and Adrian Phillips (San Diego Chargers).
Banda earned his undergraduate degree in sports management from Incarnate Word in 2011 and his master’s degree in communications from Texas in 2014. He got his coaching start at Incarnate Word after his playing days in 2011.
Banda and his wife, Crystal, have a son, Darian, and a daughter, Aamani.
EPHRAIM BANDA FILE
Coaching History
2021- Utah State – Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
2019-20 Miami (FL) – Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
2016-18 Miami (FL) – Safeties
2015 Mississippi State – Defensive Assistant
2012-14 Texas – Defensive Graduate Assistant
2011 Incarnate Word – Student Assistant
Bowl Games (10)
Utah State (1): 2021 LA Bowl
Miami (5): 2020 Cheez-It Bowl; 2019 Independence Bowl; 2018 Pinstripe Bowl; 2017 Orange Bowl; 2016 Russell Athletic Bowl
Mississippi State (1): 2015 Belk Bowl
Texas (3): 2014 Texas Bowl; 2013 Alamo Bowl; 2012 Alamo Bowl
Conference Championships (1)
Utah State (1): Mountain West, 2021
Playing Experience:
2008-10 Incarnate Word – Safety
Education
2014 Texas – Communications (M.S.)
2011 Incarnate Word – Sports Management (B.S.)
Family
Wife – Crystal; Son – Darian; Daughter – Aamani