Brenna Banktson served as an assistant coach on the Youngstown State University women’s basketball staff under head coach John Barnes during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.
In her second year with program, the Guins reached the WNIT for just the second time in the program's history. YSU won 21 games in 2014-15, posting 20-plus wins for the second time in the last three years. With seven true freshmen, the most in the Horizon League and in Ohio, the Penguins earned their 10th 20-win season in program history in 2014-15.
The Guins were 10-0 for the first time at the Division I level and for just the second time (1978-79) in school history to start a season before losing at Pittsburgh on Dec. 21. On the national level, Youngstown State ranked 13th in free-throw percentage and 22nd in 3-pointers per game. YSU advanced to the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament and won at least nine conference games for the third straight season.
Among the individual highlights, Nikki Arbanas set a YSU freshman record with 55 3-pointers in 2014-15. Indiya Benjamin was voted to the Horizon League All-Freshman Team, and Heidi Schlegel was named First-Team All-Horizon League for the second straight season. Schlegel also finished her career with 1,729 points, the fourth-most in program history, and 796 rebounds, the seventh-most program history. Schlegel also became YSU's all-time leader in career free throws made with 498.
In the staff’s first season in 2013-14, the Penguins overachieved to finish third in the Horizon League and advance to the semifinals of the conference tournament. They matched their best start ever to a conference season with six straight victories, and they had their best offense in more than a decade. The team’s 70.3 points per game were the highest since 1999-2000, and they had their highest field goal percentage in 12 years.
Among the individual highlights, Schlegel more-than-doubled her previous career high in scoring and earned First-Team All-Horizon League honors. She averaged 20 points and eight rebounds, set a new school record for made free throws and scored 621 points, the fifth-most for a season in school history. Liz Hornberger had her best season and averaged a Horizon League-leading 3.1 3-pointers per game during conference play. She made 80 3-pointers during the season and finished her career with a school-record 199 treys. Another 3-point specialist, Monica Touvelle, was named the Horizon League's Sixth Player of the Year, and guard Jenna Hirsch was named to the league's all-freshman team.
Banktson is in charge of overseeing YSU’s camp series while serving as a liaison with the equipment rom and compliance office. She also assists in developing guards, scouting opponents and recruiting prospective student-athletes.
Before coming to YSU, Banktson spent the previous two seasons serving as a director of operations in the Mid-American Conference. She was on the staff at Western Michigan, her alma mater, in 2012-13, and she served in the same capacity at Kent State in 2011-12.
In both of her stops, Banktson's responsibilities included film exchange, travel coordination and assisting with community involvement.
As a player for the Broncos from 2007-11, Banktson was a four-year letterwinner and finished her career ranking fifth in WMU history in career 3-pointers made (133), sixth in 3-point percentage (.362), 12th in free-throw percentage (.741) and 18th in career points (1,090). She was an Academic All-MAC honoree and earned the team's Academic Excellence Award her senior year.
Banktson had an impressive prep career at Frankfort High that culminated with her earning Michigan Miss Basketball honors in 2006-07. A McDonald's All-America nominee, Banktson was a three-time first-team all-state selection as well as a four-time all-conference pick. She led Frankfort to state titles as both a junior and senior.
Banktson graduated in 2011 from Western Michigan with a degree in marketing. She also served a summer internship with the WMU sports marketing department.
