#50 not assigned - lets look at one of our asst. coaches....
Arketa Banks
Hometown: Warrenton, N.C.
High School: Warren County HS
Position: Running Backs
Experience: 1st season
Alma Mater: Elon
Arketa Banks came to Cullowhee after having spent the previous season, 2008, at Brevard College where he coached the defensive secondary and was the program's recruiting coordinator. He works primarily with the Catamount running backs, mentoring 2009 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, Michael Johnson.
Banks is no stranger to Southern Conference-caliber football. A 2003 graduate of Elon, the Warrenton, N.C., native was a four-year letterwinner for the then "Fighting Christians," playing from 1999-2003. He led Elon in receiving from 2000 through 2002, amassing 1,371 yards on 54 catches with 17 receiving touchdowns during that same span. His seven touchdowns and 42 points led the Elon squad in 2001.
Banks continues to hold the ninth-longest reception in Elon history (75 yard catch in 2002 versus East Tennessee State).
Going into his senior season at Elon, The Sports Network deemed Banks the "fifth-best kick returner" in NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) football.
Post-season honors and awards were also a familiarity to Banks as he was named first team All-Independent as a return specialist in 2001, and also received second team All-Big South Conference plaudits as a wide receiver and return specialist in 2002. Banks received player of the week honors both in `01 (Independent) and twice in `02 (Big South).
Banks was a heralded defensive back at Warren County High where he also ran track & field. He began his coaching career at his alma mater at Warren County, taking over as the program's head coach in 2005 through 2006, finishing 6-5 before coaching defensive backs and quarterbacks at Wakefield High in Raleigh through 2007. In 2008, he pursued his collegiate coaching at Brevard College.
Banks was married the former Ms. Latora Pettaway of Henderson, N.C., during the summer. He also has a six-year daughter, Shymia Banks.
