cbanks1972

“In the Moment”

“In the Moment”

Charles Banks

August 5, 2015

Today I sit reminiscing of time gone by. For many years I lived my life working numerous hours without contemplation of time spent with family or a deeper set of spirituality. Tomorrow is a big day for me as I get ready for the upcoming football season, creating rosters in the mind, determining the play book set out by the head coach, and finishing up our pre-season camp in a positive manner. Yet like any other year, August 6th is a day that will resonate in my mind forever. This is my father; Gerald Banks birthday. For years I was busy coaching, too tired from the heat to make the trek south of town to give my dad a hug or a kiss. He understood and was always the first person to state how proud he was of me. I would call him wish him happy birthday and plan our yearly birthday parties during the weekend. My youngest daughter’s birthday happened to fall on August 14th so for a few years we were able to share their special days together. I still have the photograph from the last birthday party when we were able to celebrate together. My dad’s soft demeanor, which showed age in his eyes over his battle with cancer, but his resolve with life, was unmatched in my opinion.

Why am I writing such things these many years since his passing? Too many times we get caught up in the day to day grind that we sit and worry about things that are out of our control, instead of living each day in the moment. It is the moments that we ultimately remember. The good and the bad memories resonate in our minds. Last night I sat with my wife Stephanie and my youngest daughter Katarina around the fire before retiring to bed. During this quiet moment, I was able to recollect back to all the moments, I was too busy to spend time and interact with my family. Don’t get me wrong I am totally interested in all facets of my family and love them dearly. But for the most part, we as a society are so caught up in technology and worrying about what we do not have that we forget the most important aspects in our lives; our family.

My dad was a special breed of soul. He loved, he lectured, he yelled, he showed compassion, he led by example, he was honest, and he was always around interested in how his family was doing at all times. I think I do a great job always being there for my children and family, but the idea of becoming the man that my dad was is an entirely different perspective. He was my dad, my role model, my agent, and my best friend. Spiritually speaking many would call me weird or a spook in regards to my paranormal beliefs. But my dad wouldn’t as I am sure he is smiling in heaven at the idea that I would never give up in this life in my quest for finding answers in the afterlife, or the chance to communicate again even before we meet when I close my eyes for the very last time.

Dad, I have so many wonderful things to tell you. My love for Stephanie grows stronger every day; our marriage is as sound as a mansion on top of a hill. Your granddaughter Chelsey was just sworn into the Army and will leave for boot camp at the end of September. Mom says that you are probably bustling with joy in heaven. Peyton is doing so well adapting to school, he has many friends and is doing very well in band, chorus, and the arts. Your youngest granddaughter Kat will be starting 7th grade this year dad and she is going out for cross-country. I know in my heart that you will be watching the wind blow in her face as she competes towards excellence. I want you to know that after our victory last season at Keokuk in football that I knew you were there and the joy surrounded me and I pointed to the sky feeling overwhelmed with the small victory in my life and knew it in my soul that you were proud. Dad you continue to be my measuring stick towards greatness. Love you always dad; see you later on down the road.

I want to say happy heavenly 77th birthday dad. I love you beyond the moon and the stars in the sky.

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Published by cbanks1972

## Charles “Chuck” Banks ### Founder and Voice of Coaching Culture in Athletics Radio Broadcast Network Charles “Chuck” Banks—known to many throughout the tri-state sports community as Coach Banks or “Chuck the Tank”—is the founder and lead broadcaster of the Coaching Culture in Athletics Radio Broadcast Network. Built from more than two decades of coaching, teaching, leadership, and relationship-building, the network is dedicated to telling the stories of the coaches, athletes, schools, and communities that make local sports special. A native of rural Iowa, Banks has spent 20 years in education and more than 25 years coaching football. He earned his bachelor’s degree in History and Secondary Education from Graceland University in 2004 before completing a master’s degree in Secondary Education and Educational Administration and a specialist degree in Educational Leadership. Throughout his coaching career, Banks worked with programs across southeastern Iowa. His stops included Centerville, Central Lee, and Fort Madison, along with seven years coaching girls basketball and additional experience in junior-high track. At Central Lee, Banks served as an assistant defensive coach and activities director before becoming the Hawks’ head football coach from 2020 through 2022. Central Lee reached the playoffs during his final season. He was also part of multiple playoff teams and a district championship during his time with the program. At Centerville, Banks spent nine years as an assistant and helped the Big Reds capture a district championship and earn multiple playoff appearances. Most recently, he coached at Fort Madison under Head Coach Derek Doherty, helping develop younger players within the Bloodhound football program. Banks’ defensive coaching journey evolved from the traditional 5-2 defense to the 3-3-5 before he found his preferred home in the 4-2-5. However, his coaching philosophy has never been limited to schemes, formations, wins, or losses. He believes the greatest responsibility of a coach is to build relationships, develop leaders, create belonging, and prepare young people for life beyond the playing field. That belief became the foundation for Coaching Culture in Athletics. What began as an effort to create meaningful conversations about coaching and leadership grew into a full sports-media and broadcasting network. Coaching Culture in Athletics now serves as the umbrella for Dog Pound Radio, The Coach Show, the Dog House Tour, Dog Pound U, Hound Talk, the Dog House Saturday Morning Blitz, live game broadcasts, team previews, rankings, interviews, historical features, and year-round coverage of local athletics. Through the Dog House Tour, Banks visits practices, meets coaching staffs, interviews athletes, studies programs, and gives local teams the type of detailed coverage normally reserved for much larger schools. The network’s reach extends throughout southeastern Iowa, western Illinois, and northeastern Missouri, connecting communities across the tri-state region. Banks has covered and developed relationships with programs including Fort Madison, Central Lee, Centerville, West Burlington–Notre Dame, Mount Pleasant, Macomb, West Hancock, and Brown County. His work highlights more than star players and final scores. It recognizes assistant coaches, linemen, managers, scout-team players, school traditions, historic stadiums, longtime community supporters, and the people working behind the scenes. The Coach Show allows Banks to sit down with coaches from the high-school and college levels for honest conversations about leadership, program development, adversity, family, faith, and the profession of coaching. His interviews are guided by experience rather than observation alone. He understands the pressure of leading a program, the hours spent preparing, the sacrifices made by coaching families, and the responsibility that comes with mentoring young people. Dog Pound Radio brings a more energetic edge to the network. Inspired by Banks’ love for football and his beagles, Leo and Loki, Dog Pound Radio combines local sports reporting with the unmistakable “Dawg Mentality”—toughness, loyalty, preparation, perseverance, and love for the team. Loki continues to serve as a central part of the brand, while the memory of Leo remains woven into its heart. Banks’ journey has also been shaped by significant personal adversity. After suffering multiple strokes, undergoing heart surgery, and facing additional serious health concerns, he stepped away from coaching and entered what he describes as medical retirement from the sideline. He also speaks openly about depression, adult ADHD, recovery, and the importance of faith, family, purpose, and mental health. Although his health changed the way he could serve, it did not take away his calling. Broadcasting became a new sideline. Through Coaching Culture in Athletics, Banks found another way to teach, coach, encourage, and advocate. His experiences have given his work a deeper sense of urgency: appreciate the people around you, tell their stories while you can, recognize the unseen contributors, and never underestimate the impact a coach can have on a young person’s life. Faith and family remain at the center of Banks’ life. He and his wife, Stephanie, have built a life rooted in southeastern Iowa and are the proud parents of Chelsey, Peyton, and Katarina. Their growing family includes son-in-law Donald Archambault and grandchildren Orion, Owen, and Ollie. Banks often credits his family for standing beside him through the demanding seasons of coaching, education, broadcasting, illness, and recovery. Today, Chuck Banks brings together the perspective of a coach, educator, broadcaster, historian, husband, father, grandfather, and survivor. His voice is passionate, direct, knowledgeable, and deeply connected to the communities he covers. The mission of the Coaching Culture in Athletics Radio Broadcast Network is simple: promote the positive impact of athletics, strengthen coaching culture, celebrate local communities, preserve sports history, and provide athletes and coaches with a platform where their work matters. This is more than a radio network. It is a celebration of coaches, culture, athletes, families, and communities. It is local sports coverage built on relationships. It is where coaches, culture, and communities connect. It is Coaching Culture in Athletics.

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