SUNY Cortland Athletics

Murray Banks was a standout distance runner for the Red Dragons who was a teacher and coach in both Cortland and Vermont and has been a long-time professional speaker and trainer.
 
* A Cortland native and Cortland High School alumnus who attended Auburn Community College before transferring to SUNY Cortland. Earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Cortland in 1970 and a Master of Science in Physical Education in 1975.
 
* Ran on the cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field teams for two seasons from 1967-69 and competed on the swim team in 1969.
 
* Cross country team captain, SUNYAC champion, NCAA qualifier and Red Letter Award winner in 1968. Helped the Red Dragons win two SUNYAC team titles.
 
* Indoor track captain and New York State Collegiate Track and Field Association (NYSCTFA) 2-mile champion in 1969. Outdoor track SUNYAC 2-mile champion in 1969.
 
* Carl "Chugger" Davis Senior Scholar/Athlete Award winner, presented to the top male senior athlete among all sports at Cortland, in 1969.
 
* Physical education teacher and coach in the Cortland City School District from 1970-78. Built Cortland High's varsity boys' cross country team from four runners in 1971 into a league and sectional champion with 30-plus runners. Started the first Cortland High girls' cross country squad. Organized and directed the first-ever New York State High School Federation Cross Country Championship.
 
* Taught and coached in the Bethel (Vt.) School District from 1978-84. Created an elective physical education program for high school students with a focus on wellness and lifetime fitness, and created special programs for elementary students with perceptual motor difficulties.
 
* Earned the New York State Coaches Association Honor Award in 1978, the Vermont American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) Teacher of the Year Award in 1982, and the Eastern District Association (EDA)/AAHPERD Outstanding Educator Award in 1983.
 
* Professional speaker and trainer since 1984 for school district professional development, education leadership conferences, corporate training and motivational conference keynotes throughout the United States and Canada.
 
* Accomplished tri-athlete who won four Masters National Championships and was twice among the top finishers in the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii. Also a many-time national champion and three-time masters world champion in cross country skiing.
 
* In 1989 helped build the Mansfield Nordic Club in Vermont into a national powerhouse encompassing more than 200 skiers that has produced numerous medalists at New England, national and world championships at the youth, junior and masters levels.