Tavian Banks was a high school standout in both football and soccer at Bettendorf High School Bulldogs in Bettendorf, Iowa, breaking many school records.
College career
Banks chose to play for the in-state Iowa Hawkeyes over offers from national powers Miami Hurricanes and Washington Huskies. After being a backup to standout Sedrick Shaw for most of his first three years, Banks became the full-time starter his senior season. Tavian coined the nickname "Big Money" while at Iowa as a play on his last name.[1] During his senior campaign in the 1997 season, Banks rushed for a school record 1,691 yards and 17 touchdowns, an Iowa single-season record that stood until Shonn Greene broke it in 2008.[1] In the second game of the 1997 season, Banks rushed for 314 yards [1] and scored four times in Iowa's victory over Tulsa. Banks holds the school record for touchdowns scored in a career with 33.[2] Iowa finished 1997 with a record of 7–5 after losing to Arizona State in the 1997 Sun Bowl.
Banks served as the assistant running backs coach for the Louisville Cardinals in 2006,[1] but decided to leave the team when head coach Bobby Petrino left for the Atlanta Falcons. Currently, Banks is the C.E.O. of Carpe Diem Sports Enhancement in Yorkville, Illinois. He is currently a running backs coach at Naperville Central High School.
In 2008, Banks was inducted into the Iowa High School Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2009 he was elected to the Quad City Sports Hall of Fame.[1]