TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Head Coach Curt Mallory announced the addition of John Bear and Jalen Banks to the Indiana State football coaching staff as the Sycamores turn the calendar in preparation for the upcoming spring semester.
 
Bear will take on the role of offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, while Banks will handle the running back room heading into the upcoming season.
 
John Bear
John Bear joins the Indiana State coaching staff as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in January 2025. The long-time coordinator made previous stops at Bucknell, Southeastern, Georgetown, University of Chicago, North Park, Akron, Emory & Henry, and Liberty over his coaching career prior to joining the Sycamores.
 
Bears' recent stint at Bucknell over the 2023 and 2024 seasons featured the program's best overall record and most Patriot League wins (4-2) since the 2014 season. Overall, the offense set 28 school and individual records during his time with the quarterback room setting new marks in game, season, and career passing yards, touchdowns, completion percentage, and completions.
 
The Bison increased their total offense from 123rd overall to 42nd in FCS and boasted the top overall offense in the Patriot League. The scoring offensive improved from 12 points to 32 points per game led by All-Conference First Team and Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Ralph Rucker.
 
Overall, Bear has overseen the development of seven All-Americans and four NFL players, and he's helped guide several programs to record-setting offensive seasons.
 
Bear served as offensive coordinator at Southeastern University during the 2022 season after being elevated from passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Under his direction, the Fire captured a Sun Division championship title with an 8-3 record in 2021 and improved their scoring offense by 10 points per game the following year. Bear also coached All-Sun quarterback Kaylan Wiggins last season.
 
Bear spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Georgetown. While in the nation's capital, he coached the Hoyas' tight ends, running backs, wide receivers and punt return/punt block units.
 
Bear was part of the 2018 Georgetown team that finished runner-up in the Patriot League while setting the school record for league wins in a season. In 2019 he helped the offense set program records for yards per game, rushing yards per game and sacks allowed. Additionally, he coached All-Patriot League tight end Isaac Schley and All-Patriot League wide receiver Michael Dereus.
 
At the FBS level, Bear spent the 2011 and 2012 seasons as an offensive graduate assistant coach at Akron working under AFCA and SEC Coach of the Year Terry Bowden.
In his first collegiate coaching stop, Bear was an offensive assistant at Liberty from 2006 to 2008. He worked with the offensive line and running backs and saw the Flames finish 10th in the nation in total offense as well as top-20 in scoring. In his final season the Flames finished 10-2 and ranked No. 12 in FCS.
 
Bear has also spent time at the Division III level coaching at the University of Chicago, North Park University and Emory & Henry College. During his 2016 season at Chicago, the Maroons set the all-time NCAA record for offensive plays in a game with 123 and broke 36 school records, as the passing offense finished fourth in NCAA Division III.
 
In his first season as offensive coordinator at North Park, Bear orchestrated an incredible offensive turnaround that saw the team dramatically improve its scoring and win its first conference game in 13 seasons. His offenses set nine single-season passing records and numerous single-game records. He coached a First Team All-Conference quarterback and wide receiver, and North Park received its first-ever College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Coach of the Year award.
 
Originally from Shoreline, Wash., Bear played offensive line at King's High School and went on to become a three-year starter and senior captain at Trinity International University. He earned his bachelor's degree in sports management in 2006.
 
Jalen Banks
Jalen Banks joins the Indiana State coaching staff as the running backs coach in January 2025. Banks comes to the Sycamores following stints at both Bucknell, Louisiana Lafayette, Fordham, Northwestern, and Austin Peay State.
 
Banks' one season at Bucknell featured huge dividends as the Bison running back room featured 2024 Jerry Rice Award finalist Tariq Thomas. Thomas put together 783 rushing yards on 166 carries on his way to earning Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors and Second Team All-League recognition. Banks also worked with the kickoff return game while assisting in both run and pass gameplan duties.
 
Banks spent the 2023 season at the University of Louisiana Lafayette, where he was a defensive graduate assistant working primarily with the Ragin' Cajuns' Sam linebackers.
 
The season prior, Banks coached running backs at Fordham and worked with some of the premier rushers in the Patriot League. Banks coached 2022 All-Patriot League tandem Trey Sneed and Julius Loughridge, who combined for over 2,200 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns that season. With Banks on staff, the Rams posted the top-ranked offense in all of FCS in 2022, racking up 608.9 yards and 49.5 points per game.
 
Banks spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons as an offensive graduate assistant and quality control analyst at Northwestern. He assisted with the wide receivers and running backs in what was his second stint with the Wildcats. Banks had previously served as an on-campus recruiting intern at Northwestern from June 2019 to February 2020.
 
Between his two stints in Evanston, Banks was a defensive graduate assistant at Austin Peay, where he assisted in the defensive backs room and was primarily responsible for coaching the Governors' cornerbacks.
 
Banks joined the coaching ranks in 2018 as a varsity defensive backs coach and junior varsity defensive coordinator at Thornton Township High School, where he graduated from before going on to a four-year playing career at Vanderbilt. Banks saw action in 29 games with the Commodores, contributing on special teams, at safety and at running back.
 
Banks earned his bachelor's degree in communication studies and achieved a minor in managerial studies at Vanderbilt. Banks is a native of Markham, Ill.
 
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