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 The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) is a private, Catholic university with its main campus in San Antonio and Alamo Heights, Texas. Founded in 1881 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, the university's main campus is located o ...

from 2008 to 2010, where he joined the newly created football program as a 25-year old

walk-on Walk On may refer to: Music * ''Walk On'', a 1994 album by Boston, and its title song Albums * ''Walk On'' (Boston album), 1994 * ''Walk On'' (John Hiatt album), 1995 * ''Walk On'' (Randy Johnston album), 1992 *''Walk On'', a 2007 album by ...

and was named the special teams captain in the program's first career game.

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. He was named a graduate assistant at Texas in 2012 behind the recommendation of a former Incarnate Word coach who was hired at Texas. 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 William Mack Brown (born August 27, 1951) is an American college football coach. He is currently in his second stint as the head football coach for the University of North Carolina, where he first coached from 1988 until departing in 1997, whe ...

Charlie Strong Charles Rene Strong (born August 2, 1960) is an American football coach who is currently the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of Miami. He recently served as the assistant head coach and inside linebackers coach ...

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. After Diaz left briefly to accept the head coaching position at Temple, Banda was promoted to co-defensive coordinator.

Utah State

Banda was named the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at

Utah State Utah State University (USU or Utah State) is a public land-grant research university in Logan, Utah. It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. With nearly 20,000 students living on or near campus, USU is Utah's ...

on January 5, 2021.

Cleveland Browns

On February 21, 2023, Banda was hired to be the Cleveland Browns safeties coach under DC Jim Schwartz.

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.

References

External links

*
Utah State Aggies profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Banda, Ephraim 1981 births Living people Sportspeople from San Antonio Players of American football from San Antonio Coaches of American football from Texas American football safeties Incarnate Word Cardinals football players Incarnate Word Cardinals football coaches Texas Longhorns football coaches Mississippi State Bulldogs football coaches Miami Hurricanes football coaches Utah State Aggies football coaches Cleveland Browns coaches American sportspeople of Mexican descent