Kyle Bankhead enters his second season at San Francisco after joining the Dons’ coaching staff as an assistant coach in the summer of 2022. In his first year on the Hilltop, Bankhead helped San Francisco reach the 20+ win mark for the sixth straight full season at USF.
Bankhead was hired by head coach Chris Gerlufsen for the 2022-23 season, a campaign that saw the Dons begin with a 7-1 start. In November, San Francisco took home the 2022 Hall of Fame Classic championship in Kansas City, MO. The Dons would finish non-conference play with a record of 11-4, which tied the most preseason wins by a first-year staff at USF since 1980-81.
The team’s 2022-23 campaign featured a 37-point win over #25 Arizona State - the largest victory over a ranked team in program history. That final margin represents the fourth biggest win for an unranked team over an AP Top 25 opponent in the past 30 seasons.
With Bankhead’s help, the Dons assembled a 2023 recruiting class that ranked 25th nationally in overall transfer activity (via EvanMiya.com). A skilled recruiter with deep ties in Europe, Bankhead has recruited over a dozen international players throughout his coaching career. His impact on the 2023-24 roster is evident: 7 of USF’s 13 letter winners are from outside the United States. In June of 2023, Bankhead was invited to represent USF at the TopConnect Basketball Symposium which connects the best assistant coaches in college basketball with athletic directors around the country.
Prior to USF, Bankhead spent one season at Abilene Christian as an assistant coach to Brette Tanner. The team finished with a 25-11 record, a win total that equaled the second most victories in the school’s Division I history. In his role at ACU, Bankhead implemented the team’s “5-Out Motion” offensive system that experienced marked success. Abilene Christian’s potent offense would go on to lead the conference in scoring - the only time the program has ever accomplished this to date.
Before his stint at ACU, Bankhead worked for four seasons under Wes Miller at UNC Greensboro, the last three of which were spent as an assistant coach. Bankhead’ arrival helped UNCG earn the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth since 2001, snapping a 17-year drought. With Bankhead on staff, the Spartans reached the postseason in each possible year, including 2 NCAA Tournament appearances (2018, 2021) and a #1 seed in the NIT (2019). UNCG posted a 100-33 record over a four-year span, as Bankhead’s influence helped spur the most successful era in UNCG basketball history. On August 4, 2020, Stadium’s Jeff Goodman ranked Bankhead as the #2 assistant coach in the Southern Conference.
From 2015-17, Bankhead was the head coach of Sunrise Christian Academy’s Post- Grad team in Bel Aire, KS. During his time as head coach, Bankhead helped develop 13 Division I prospects, including the likes of Mail Kostar (who started for South Carolina’s Final Four team) & DJ Wilkins (Drake’s all-time leading 3 point shooter). During the 2016-17 season, Bankhead led Sunrise Christian to a 26-13 record (.667) on the prep school circuit.
A veteran of the West Coast Conference, Bankhead spent 8 seasons as an assistant coach at the University of San Diego under Bill Grier. Under Bankhead’s guidance, USD’s program was able to reach heights not previously seen. On March 21, 2008, the Toreros earned the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory in school history behind a thrilling overtime win over #4 seed UConn. To punch their ticket to March Madness, the Toreros defeated #22 Gonzaga to win the 2008 WCC Tournament championship. In addition to those games, USD notched signature victories over the likes of Kentucky, Oklahoma, Oregon, and many others during Bankhead’s tenure.
Bankhead got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant for his alma mater of Gonzaga in 2006-07. He spent one season in this role, where he helped Mark Few’s Bulldogs to a 23-11 record and an NCAA Tournament berth.
As a student-athlete, Bankhead played 4 seasons at Gonzaga, where he was a part of 4 NCAA tournament teams. With Bankhead, the Bulldogs won 4 regular season WCC championships (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004) and 3 WCC Tournament championships (2001, 2002, 2004). He made 48 starts for a program that reached a Sweet Sixteen and totaled 4 NCAA Tournament wins during his playing career. Individually, Bankhead left the program ranked 6th in Gonzaga history in made three pointers. At the time of his graduation, Bankhead was 7th all-time in the WCC for career three-point percentage. In 2004, Bankhead graduated from Gonzaga University with a bachelor's degree in sports management. As a student, he was named to the West Coast Conference All-Academic team three times.
What they are saying about Kyle Bankhead:
"Kyle has an unmatched work ethic and shown the ability to elevate the programs he has become a part of. He will do an amazing job at USF and I'm excited to see him continue to grow in this profession." - Tommy Lloyd, University of Arizona Head Coach
"Kyle wins everywhere he goes. He is a relentless recruiter and builds real relationships with players. Great hire by Coach Gerlufsen and San Francisco." - Brette Tanner, Abilene Christian Head Coach
CAREER EXPERIENCE:
2022-present San Francisco, Assistant Coach
2021-22 Abilene Christian, Assistant Coach
2018-21 UNC Greensboro, Assistant Coach
2017-18 UNC Greensboro, Director of Operations
2015-17 Sunrise Christian Post-Grad, Head Coach
2007-15 San Diego, Assistant Coach
2006-07 Gonzaga, Graduate Assistant
