Jan. 15, 2007

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - University of Maryland secondary coach Tim Banks has left the Terrapins to become the defensive coordinator at Central Michigan University, the Mid-American Conference school announced today.

A 1995 graduate of CMU, Banks returns to his alma mater after four seasons with the Terps. Banks coached the Terrapins' secondary in 2006 after spending his first three seasons with the inside linebackers. Under his guidance, linebacker D'Qwell Jackson was a two-time first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection (2004-05), ACC Defensive Player of the Year (2005) and a Bednarik Award finalist (2005). This past season senior cornerback Josh Wilson earned honorable mention All-ACC honors.

"Tim did a real good job for us." Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen said. "He's an excellent football coach and a good person. We'll miss him, but he felt this was an opportunity he could not pass up. It's a chance to become a defensive coordinator at his alma mater and go back to Michigan where he has a lot of family ties."

Prior to Maryland, Banks spent two seasons as an assistant at the University of Memphis (2001-02) and two years at Bowling Green (1999-00). The Tigers ranked ninth in Division I-A in pass defense in 2002, his only season working the cornerbacks.

Banks was a four-year letterman at cornerback and two time second-team All-MAC selection (1993-94) at CMU. He was also a co-captain for the 1994 MAC championship team.

"Tim and I coached together at Ferris (State University) and competed against one another the last two years," CMU head coach Butch Jones said. "I have been very impressed with his defensive schemes and the way his defenses have played. He will be a great asset to this program, both as a CMU alum and a native of the city of Detroit."

Jones was hired earlier this month after spending the last two seasons at West Virginia.

CMU was 10-4 this past season, winning the MAC Championship and Motor City Bowl. Third-year head coach Brian Kelly took the Cincinnati job last month.

Friedgen has already begun a national search to identify a replacement for Banks.

(Material from the Central Michigan Sports Information office was used in this release)