Ted Banks helped the Bruins win the 1956 NCAA Championship.
UCLA National Champion Ted Banks Passes Away
September 20, 2016 | Track & Field
Ted Banks, a senior distance runner on UCLA's 1956 NCAA championship squad who would go onto become the men's track & field and cross country head coach at Texas El-Paso (UTEP) and lead the Miners to 17 national titles in nine years (1972-81), passed away Aug. 25 at his home in Gunter, Texas. He was 82 years old.
Banks was a two-year (1955/1956) UCLA track & field and cross country letterman, a physical education major and a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He entered his senior season (1956) with a best mark of 9:40.7 in the two mile. In 1956, under Bruin head coach Elvin C. 'Ducky' Drake, UCLA won the school's first ever conference (Pacific Coast Conference/69.50 points) and NCAA (44 7/10 points) championships. Several of Banks' UCLA teammates were among the greatest in school history, including decathlete Rafer Johnson, throwers Ron Drummond and Don Vick, high jumper Nick Dyer and distance runner Bob Seaman.
Following his Bruin graduation, Banks' first coaching position was in 1959 at Alhambra, CA HS, followed by coaching stints at La Puente, CA HS, La Habra, CA HS, Pasadena City College, San Jose State, Mount Miguel HS (Spring Valley, CA) and Long Beach State. While at San Jose State, Banks worked with world record holders Tommie Smith (200m) and Lee Evans (400m). ย ย
During his nine years (1972-81) leading UTEP's men's track & field and cross country teams, he directed the Miners to 17 national titles โ NCAA Outdoor (1975, 1978 (co-championship), 1979, 1980, 1981), NCAA Indoor (1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981), NCAA Cross Country (1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981). ย The Miners won NCAA 'triple crowns' (cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field) in 1979-80 and 1980-81. ย
From 1982-88, Banks served as the National Director of Running Promotions for Converse. He helped to develop the company's first line of running shoes and directing promotions at major track meets, road races, marathons and the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles (Converse was an official sponsor).
In 1988, Banks became the Riverside City College men's track & field and cross country head coach for eight seasons. He led RCC to three (1989, 1992, 1994) track & field State championships and two (1991, 1994) cross country State crowns.
Banks was a member of UTEP's charter (2002) Hall of Fame induction class, is enshrined in the RCC Hall of Fame and in 2000 was inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He has also been inducted into the Alhambra HS Athletic Hall of Fame, the UTEP Track Hall of Fame and the El Paso, TX Athletic Hall of Fame. ย
Theodore H. Banks, Jr. was born May 31, 1934 in San Gabriel, Calif. Before becoming a Bruin, Banks prepped at Mark Keppel HS (Alhambra, Calif.), where he was captain of the track & field and cross country teams and the Pacific League mile champion in 1951 and 1952.ย From 1952-54, Banks ran track & field and cross country at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif.
He is survived by his wife, Judy, three children (Jennifer, Ted and Tom) and two grandchildren (Hunter and Jade Nix). A memorial service for Ted Banks was held Sept. 16 in Allen, TX. The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to www.HomeHospice.org or to a charity of your choice. ย ย
ย ย ย
ย
Banks was a two-year (1955/1956) UCLA track & field and cross country letterman, a physical education major and a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He entered his senior season (1956) with a best mark of 9:40.7 in the two mile. In 1956, under Bruin head coach Elvin C. 'Ducky' Drake, UCLA won the school's first ever conference (Pacific Coast Conference/69.50 points) and NCAA (44 7/10 points) championships. Several of Banks' UCLA teammates were among the greatest in school history, including decathlete Rafer Johnson, throwers Ron Drummond and Don Vick, high jumper Nick Dyer and distance runner Bob Seaman.
Following his Bruin graduation, Banks' first coaching position was in 1959 at Alhambra, CA HS, followed by coaching stints at La Puente, CA HS, La Habra, CA HS, Pasadena City College, San Jose State, Mount Miguel HS (Spring Valley, CA) and Long Beach State. While at San Jose State, Banks worked with world record holders Tommie Smith (200m) and Lee Evans (400m). ย ย
During his nine years (1972-81) leading UTEP's men's track & field and cross country teams, he directed the Miners to 17 national titles โ NCAA Outdoor (1975, 1978 (co-championship), 1979, 1980, 1981), NCAA Indoor (1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981), NCAA Cross Country (1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981). ย The Miners won NCAA 'triple crowns' (cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field) in 1979-80 and 1980-81. ย
From 1982-88, Banks served as the National Director of Running Promotions for Converse. He helped to develop the company's first line of running shoes and directing promotions at major track meets, road races, marathons and the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles (Converse was an official sponsor).
In 1988, Banks became the Riverside City College men's track & field and cross country head coach for eight seasons. He led RCC to three (1989, 1992, 1994) track & field State championships and two (1991, 1994) cross country State crowns.
Banks was a member of UTEP's charter (2002) Hall of Fame induction class, is enshrined in the RCC Hall of Fame and in 2000 was inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He has also been inducted into the Alhambra HS Athletic Hall of Fame, the UTEP Track Hall of Fame and the El Paso, TX Athletic Hall of Fame. ย
Theodore H. Banks, Jr. was born May 31, 1934 in San Gabriel, Calif. Before becoming a Bruin, Banks prepped at Mark Keppel HS (Alhambra, Calif.), where he was captain of the track & field and cross country teams and the Pacific League mile champion in 1951 and 1952.ย From 1952-54, Banks ran track & field and cross country at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif.
He is survived by his wife, Judy, three children (Jennifer, Ted and Tom) and two grandchildren (Hunter and Jade Nix). A memorial service for Ted Banks was held Sept. 16 in Allen, TX. The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to www.HomeHospice.org or to a charity of your choice. ย ย
ย ย ย
ย
UCLA New Director of Track & Field: Joanna Hayes
Friday, June 21
UCLA New Director of Track & Field: Joanna Hayes
Friday, June 21
UCLA Track & Field Jim Bush Legends Invite (April 13, 2024)
Wednesday, April 17
powHER of the Pac: UCLA's Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Monday, June 27