PUEBLO, Colo. (March 18, 2026) – Colorado State University Pueblo Athletics will host a Celebration of Life honoring longtime coach, administrator, and pioneer Jessie Banks on Monday, April 13, at 5:30 p.m. in the OSC Ballroom, adjacent to Massari Arena.
The evening will begin with a social gathering at 5:30 p.m. in the OSC Ballroom lobby, where guests are invited to reconnect, share memories, and view a photo display and memorabilia celebrating Banks' remarkable life and legacy. Light hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be provided.
The formal program will begin at 6:00 p.m. inside the OSC Ballroom and will feature reflections on Banks' lasting impact on CSU Pueblo, the Pueblo community, and generations of student-athletes.
"Jessie's impact on CSU Pueblo Athletics cannot be overstated," said Dr. Paul Plinske, CSU Pueblo's Vice President for Athletics and Strategic Partnerships. "She was a pioneer in women's athletics and helped build opportunities for generations of student-athletes. Across decades of service, mentorship and advocacy, Jessie left a lasting mark on nearly every sport within our department and on countless student-athletes, coaches and colleagues."
All who knew Banks — including former student-athletes, colleagues, friends, and community members — are warmly invited to attend and celebrate the life of a trailblazer who played a foundational role in CSU Pueblo Athletics.
Banks passed away on Feb. 20, 2026, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential figures in the development of women's athletics at CSU Pueblo, then known as the University of Southern Colorado.
Arriving on campus in 1966, Banks became the institution's first women's basketball and volleyball coach, while also leading softball and track & field and serving as an Assistant Athletic Director. She spent three decades as a professor at USC from 1966-96.
"As a student-athlete at CSU Pueblo, I had the privilege of knowing Jessie and experiencing the impact she had on both the Athletic Department and the Pueblo community," said CSU Pueblo Associate Athletic Director and former Pack student-athlete Jenna McKinley-Fall. "Over the past few years, she became so much more — a mentor, a trusted voice, and someone I deeply admired.
"I will miss our lunch talks, where she would share stories from her life as a remarkable athlete, but also the challenges she faced — like putting chains on her car to get over a mountain pass returning from RMAC games," McKinley-Fall added. "In a short time, she made a lasting impact on my life, and I will always be grateful for the guidance, wisdom, and example she shared."
A pioneer in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Banks was named the RMAC Volleyball Coach of the Year in 1979 — just the second year the sport was recognized by the league — after leading Southern Colorado to the East Division title, a feat the program repeated in 1980.
On the basketball court, her 1978-79 team captured the RMAC East Division championship with a 7-1 conference record, and her 1980-81 squad also claimed the division crown. Banks was instrumental in helping USC secure the opportunity to host the AIAW Small College National Basketball Tournament, in which the program also competed.
Before her coaching career, Banks played professionally for the All-American Redheads from 1954-59. She later attended the team's induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
"Her influence is still felt every day across our department," Dr. Plinske added. "We stand on the foundation she built."
Banks' impact was recognized with numerous honors, including induction into the RMAC Hall of Fame, Greater Pueblo Sports Hall of Fame, Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports Hall of Fame, the Lindsay (Okla.) High School Hall of Fame and the CSU Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame as a charter member in 2008. CSU Pueblo's Female Athlete of the Year Award is named in her honor.
