Arketa Banks - Football Coach - East Carolina University Athletics

Arketa Banks

Title:
Senior Defensive Analyst
Email:
banksar24@ecu.edu
Phone:
(252) 737-4570

Arketa Banks is in his second year at East Carolina as a senior defensive analyst, a position he began in March of 2024. Currently he works alongside of Tarron Williams coaching the Pirate cornerbacks.

Banks joined the Pirates’ staff after serving two seasons as the special team’s coordinator at Georgia State, which began in May of 2022. Prior to Georgia Southern, he spent one season at Elon, his alma mater, where he coached the tight ends (2021) and the cornerbacks (spring 2022).

Before going to Elon, he returned to Western Carolina (2017-19) where he worked with the wide receivers, running backs and tight ends. In his first stint in Cullowee, he tutored the running backs from 2009-12.

Banks coached at NCAA Division II powerhouse Lenoir-Rhyne for five seasons serving as the slotbacks coach (2013-14) and receivers coach (2015-17). During the 2014 season, he coached the slotbacks D-II national-record 416.2 rushing yards per game, led by NCAA Division II All-America Chris Robinson and helped the Bears to an 11-1 record in 2014 and a No. 8 national ranking at the end of the season. While at Lenoir-Rhyne, Banks also served as the Director of High School Relations and In-State Recruiting.

In 2018, he worked at Gardner-Webb and coached the running backs and tight ends for one season before returning to Western Carolina in 2019.

Banks got his start in coaching at his alma mater, Warren County High School in Warrenton, N.C., first as the junior varsity head coach in 2004 before taking over at the varsity level in 2005. He coached prep football at Wakefield High in Raleigh in 2006-07, working with defensive backs and quarterbacks.

Earned his first collegiate coaching position at Brevard College in 2008, where he coached the defensive secondary and served as the program’s recruiting coordinator for one season.

A 2003 graduate of Elon, Banks was a four-year letterwinner and an All-Big South Conference performer as a receiver and a kick returner in 2002. Named All-Independent as a return specialist in 2001 and during his career, he led Elon in receiving from 2000-2002, amassing 1,371 yards on 54 catches with 17 receiving touchdowns.

Banks and his wife, the former Latora Pettaway of Henderson, N.C., have three children: Shymia, Kimora, and Arketa, II.