Ephraim Banda joined Jim Schwartz’s staff in 2023 after being a college defensive coordinator
In Jim Schwartz’s first season as the Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator, he led a unit that dominated football, got the Browns into the playoffs and ended up being the best in football. That was not able to be replicated in 2024 but defense rarely carries over at high levels year to year.
Part of Schwartz’s new staff in 2023 was safties coach Ephraim Banda. Banda had experience in college including time as the defensive coordinator at both the University of Miami and Utah State. Barry Shuck’s profile on Banda presents a great look at Cleveland’s fiery coach.
Banda shared the importance of leverage in Schwartz’s system and proved enough in one season to be named the defensive coordinator of one side of the Senior Bowl. After two seasons, Banda proved enough to be interviewed for the Indianapolis Colts vacant DC job:
The #Colts interviewed #Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda today for their defensive coordinator job, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 10, 2025
The 43-year-old Banda is going into his 14th season as a coach with 11 bowl appearances in his 11 years as a college coach.
The Colts have also reportedly interviewed Lou Anarumo, former Cincinnati Bengals DC, and Steve Wilks, who has been the DC in multiple places including Cleveland under Freddie Kitchens.