LOGAN, Utah – Ephraim (pronounced Ef-rum) Banda, who has 10 years of collegiate coaching experience, including two seasons as a co-coordinator, has been hired as Utah State's defensive coordinator and safeties coach, it was announced Tuesday by Aggie head football coach
Blake Anderson. In each of his nine seasons as an assistant, Banda has coached in a bowl game.
"My family and I are extremely excited to join coach
Blake Anderson, Athletic Director
John Hartwell, the football staff and the Aggie family," said Banda. "We are looking forward to arriving in Utah this week and immersing ourselves into the Logan community. As a family, we take great pride in building strong, meaningful relationships with our student-athletes and can't wait to meet them. Our defensive staff is ready to bring a brand of defense built on urgency, physicality and disruption that will be fun to watch. Go Aggies!"
Banda comes to Utah State after spending the past 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).
"Ephraim is a proven coach and one of the best recruiters in the country," said Anderson. "His defenses are known for creating havoc in the backfield with sacks and tackles for loss, in addition to forcing turnovers at a high rate. He is a terrific teacher and motivator, and his energy will translate onto the field with our players."
In the past two recruiting cycles, Banda has landed the No. 1-ranked safety in the nation in James Williams from American Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla., in the 2021 class, and Avantae Williams of DeLand (Fla.) High School in 2020.
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 per game), 16th in fumbles recovered (9) and 33rd in sacks (2.73 pg). Miami finished the season with an 8-3 record, including a 7-2 Atlantic Coast Conference mark, and played in the Cheez-It Bowl.
Miami also had four players earn all-ACC honors in 2020, including safety Bubba Bolden and defensive end Jaelan Phillips, who was named a consensus All-American. Bolden, a Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist as the nation's top defensive back, was named the ACC Defensive Back of the Week twice this past season, 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 yards allowed per game) 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. yards allowed per game) and 18th in pass defense (195.2 yards allowed per game).
In 2018, the Hurricanes ranked fourth nationally in total defense (278.9 yards allowed per game) and ranked No. 1 in several categories, including tackles for loss (10.5 pg), third down conversion percentage (.253) and passing defense (135.6 yards allowed per game). In 2018, Johnson (second team) and Redwine (honorable mention) both earned all-conference honors as Johnson was a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist.
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 by both Sports Illustrated and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), 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 (up from No. 69 the previous year), No. 9 in yards per play (No. 86 in 2015), No. 12 in scoring defense (No. 77 in 2015), No. 5 in tackles for loss (No. 105 in 2015), No. 22 in team sacks (No. 70 in 2015) and tied for No. 8 in defensive touchdowns allowed (No. 61 in 2015). 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 for head coach Dan Mullen and defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, 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 in 2015, surrendering only 24.
Before arriving in Starkville, Miss., Banda spent three seasons as a defensive graduate assistant at Texas from 2012-15. He filled a variety of roles, from scripting practices and organizing scouting reports to assisting with the defensive backs working for head coaches Mack Brown and Charlie Strong, and Diaz.
In 2014, Banda's assistance to the defensive staff guided the Longhorns to the nation's 25th-best ranking in total defense (348.5 yards allowed per game).
In 2012, Banda assisted with the game plan that allowed Texas to set an Alamo Bowl record with 10 sacks in its win against No. 13 Oregon State. Under Banda's assistance in 2012, Texas also featured a defensive unit that allowed just 212.0 passing yards per game, while facing five of the nation's top-10 passing offenses that season. In addition to his work on defense, Banda also assisted with the Longhorns' special teams.
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 and Adrian Phillips. Diggs was drafted in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions and was named to his first Pro Bowl this season with the Seattle Seahawks. Phillips signed as a free agent with the San Diego Chargers in 2014 and was named First-Team All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl in 2018.
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 (9)
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
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
