This occasional series will highlight Black coaches at all levels of sport.
This week: Nebraska Omaha WBB Coach Carrie Banks.
There’s not a whole lot of all-Black coaching staff in college basketball other than HBCU schools. But Nebraska Omaha is one of the few non-HBCU schools that went against the norm.
Carrie Banks is in her fifth season at the helm of the Mavericks women’s basketball program. It’s the second season for Assistants Ansar Al-Ameer and Jaclyn Richard Harris, both coaches hired in 2023, and the first season for fellow Assistant La’Karris Salter.
“I certainly think diversity is important in all aspects of life,” said Banks after her team played at St. Thomas earlier this month. Of her staff, she added, “They’re great people, they’re great coaches, and I feel lucky to have them.”
Banks and Denver’s Doshia Woods are the longest tenured Black head coaches in the Summit League.
“I think she [Woods] is just a great resource for me, and I hope I can be for her as well just to bounce ideas off of each other,” stressed Banks.
After a collegiate playing career at the University of Detroit Mercy where she graduated with a communications degree in 2000, Banks began her coaching career at UDM as an assistant coach (2008-10) and held similar roles at South Florida, Northwestern and Ohio State before being hired at Omaha in April 2020, where she was given a contract expansion following the 2023-24 season.
Omaha and Kansas City are the only Summit League schools where both their head men’s and women’s basketball coaches are Black, a rare double-double at a primarily white institution (PWI).
Banks said that more Black HCs are needed, and that more diversity among those who do the hiring is even more important. “I think there’s still probably a lack of some diversity in those seats,” surmised Banks.
“It’s a really tough time in our country where they’re eliminating DEI initiatives and appreciation, so that’s hopefully not something that sets us back with that. If you look at the body of players that we are approaching, you would think that it would be important to have people that look like them in these programs that lead them.”
Hamilton retires
Florida State Men’s BB Coach Leonard Hamilton suddenly announced his resignation at the end of the season on Feb. 3. He told a reporter that the changing landscape of college sports and his belief that “a new voice” is needed after 22 seasons were among his reasons.
Hamilton began his coaching career in 1971, was a repeated coach of the year winner, and will leave Florida State as its all-time winningest coach. He also coached at Oklahoma State, Miami, and a year as an NBA head coach.
Perhaps Hamilton’s place in history has been largely overlooked as the University of Kentucky’s first Black assistant coach (1974-80) and first Black associate head coach (1980-82).
“I want to take a few moments to thank Coach Hamilton for all that he’s done, for all Black coaches out there, and for all the young coaches who are coming up,” said South Carolina State WBB Coach Tim Eatman during the Feb. 5 bi-weekly MEAC coaches conference call with reporters.
Eatman told the MSR on Hamilton’s impact, “He was at the forefront of trying to make sure that we made change for our young people. He spoke up like John Thompson did. He spoke up like Coach [C. Vivian] Stringer did and Coach [Marian] Washington did. It opened doors for people like myself and other coaches who are on the call because we all look the same.
“He did such a tremendous job of mentoring and to help develop all of us as young coaches coming up in the game,” concluded Eatman.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.