UNCG men’s basketball head coach Wes Miller announced the addition of Kyle Bankhead to his staff as the Director of Basketball Operations Thursday. Bankhead brings eight years of collegiate basketball coaching experience with him along with NCAA Division I playing experience at Gonzaga. This move was first mentioned by HoopDirt.com back on 8/28 (Daily Dirt).
“Kyle brings a wealth of experience to the program” Miller said. “He has extensive experience in college basketball as a player and a coach. He’s participated in multiple NCAA tournaments and has gained valuable experience for two years as a prep school head coach. We’re pleased to welcome him to Greensboro.”
Bankhead joins the Spartans after spending the past two years as the head prep team basketball coach at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas. He helped the team post a 26-13 record during the 2016-17 season and developed 13 NCAA Division I prospects over the past two years.
Bankhead spent eight years (2007-15) as an assistant coach at the University of San Diego in the West Coast Conference. He helped the Toreros win the WCC Tournament Championship in 2008 and advance into the NCAA Tournament second round. Additionally, San Diego appeared in the WCC Tournament semifinals in 2013. He recruited USD’s all-time assist leader in Christopher Anderson and the all-time career block leader in Jito Kok. Bankhead also spent a year as the video coordinator at his alma mater, Gonzaga, helping it win the WCC regular season and tournament titles while advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
“I am grateful for the opportunity that Coach Miller has given me to join such an impressive basketball environment at UNCG,” Bankhead said. “Both the university and basketball program have proven to be on the rise. I am anxious to begin the journey at UNCG, and I am humbled to be a part of the Spartan family.”
Bankhead was a four-year letterwinner at Gonzaga, starting 48 games for the Zags. He helped Gonzaga win four-straight West Coast Conference titles and three WCC Tournament championships. He was part of four NCAA Tournament teams, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2001. He is seventh all-time in Gonzaga history with 169 career made 3-pointers and seventh in WCC history with a 45.3 3-point percentage. Bankhead earned his degree in sports management from Gonzaga in 2003. He spent one year playing professional basketball for the Schwelmer Baskets of the German Bundesliga in 2004.
