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by | Mar 16, 2018 | Hosta

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Ephraim Banda (born November 1, 1981) is an American football coach who is the safeties coach for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL).

Playing career

Banda played safety at Incarnate Word from 2008 to 2010, where he joined the newly created football program as a 25-year old walk-on and was named the special teams captain in the program's first career game.[1]

Coaching career

After suffering a knee injury that ended his playing career, Banda stayed with the Cardinals football program as a student assistant while he completed his degree.[2] He was named a graduate assistant at Texas in 2012 behind the recommendation of a former Incarnate Word coach who was hired at Texas.[3] While at Texas, he developed a close relationship with Longhorns defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, as they both got their first jobs outside of coaching. He stayed with the program as they transitioned from Mack Brown to Charlie Strong before joining Diaz at Mississippi State as a defensive quality control coach.

Miami (FL)

Banda followed Diaz to Miami, where he was named the safeties coach in 2016.[4] After Diaz left briefly to accept the head coaching position at Temple, Banda was promoted to co-defensive coordinator.[5]

Utah State

Banda was named the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Utah State on January 5, 2021.[6]

Cleveland Browns

On February 21, 2023, Banda was hired to be the Cleveland Browns safeties coach under defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.[7]

Personal life

Banda and his wife Crystal have two children; Darian and Aamani. Before playing at Incarnate Word, Banda was a bartender on the San Antonio River Walk and continued to work as one during his playing career in order to pay bills.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Incarnate Word football player, 27, a testament to perseverance". KENS 5. 27 October 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Incarnate Word's Banda enjoying transition from football player to student coach". San Antonio Express-News. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  3. ^ "How one Miami assistant refused to quit on his dreams". ESPN. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Ephraim Banda joins Miami Hurricanes as safeties coach". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  5. ^ "The Miami Hurricanes aren't going far to replace Manny Diaz at defensive coordinator". Miami Herald. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Ephraim Banda Named Defensive Coordinator and Safeties Coach at Utah State". Utah State University Athletics. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  7. ^ "What date was ephraim banda hired to work for the browns".
  8. ^ "Ephraim Banda's 'crazy' journey from bartender to Miami Hurricanes safeties coach". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 15 April 2021.

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