Failure is often the greatest teacher. Having the people around to help you bounce back from a setback can also enhance that learning experience.
Justin Bane, the new offensive coordinator for the West Texas A&M football team, abides by these philosophies.
Announced as the Buffaloes’ new offensive coordinator on March 26 by head coach Josh Lynn, Bane’s path to WTAMU was a little unorthodox. The Rogers native owned and operated several training facilities in Texas where he trained numerous professional athletes, which eventually led to a successful two-year stint as offensive coordinator at Central Missouri.
Due to his long and winding road to Canyon, he appreciates the opportunity to put on the headset and guide student-athletes.
“(My coaching career) would have ended early if it wasn’t for the love from a lot of people, who kept me going,” Bane said of his journey. “I was in private business for about 17 years, and I failed every which way. That’s probably the only thing that qualifies me as a coach, is how much I failed. I can really help these kids respond to it.”
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As much as he fell short, he had people helping him along the way. The first and foremost is his wife, Dr. Annie Bane. Then, it’s Josh Lamberson, the head football coach for Central Missouri, and a familiar face in Ben Arbuckle, the current offensive coordinator for the University of Oklahoma.
“She’s really forced me to push myself,” said Bane. “She believed in me when I couldn’t. (Lamberson) is a good friend of mine. He offered me an opportunity to be the offensive coordinator and call plays. He really let me be myself, and I’m forever thankful for that.”
“My wife’s twin sister is a professor, and she has some family friends up here,” Bane continued. “I love coach Arbuckle to death. I think he’s such a stud and a star.”
According to Lynn, Bane was at the right place at the right time. His wife’s twin sister currently resides in Lubbock.
“It just fell into place,” Lynn said. “He was really well sought after in the college coaching world, and we’re fortunate enough to to have some things here locally with the family. I think with him too, it’s not all about climbing the ladder. He’s always told me that he wants to coach somewhere he really enjoys. Hopefully, we’re getting that done here for him.”
The formula to Bane’s success is to unleash his athletes’ potential.
“It’s our job to get this talent together, and then turn them loose,” said Bane.
His track record speaks for itself.
While he was guiding the Mules’ offense into one of the top units in NCAA Division II, quarterback Zach Zebrowski became a two-time Harlon Hill Trophy recipient. Zebrowski accumulated 9,881 yards and 101 touchdowns over those two seasons, with 789 completions and 11,012 yards of total offense.
Last year, Central Missouri went 9-3 by averaging 526.1 yards and 39.1 points per contest. The Mules also made an appearance in the Heritage Bowl.
In 2023, Bane was recognized as the FootballScoop Coordinator of the Year. The Mules acquired an 11-2 record, a share of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association title and a second round appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
This season, he sees the Buffs as a group eager to reach the next level. He sees future pros among the bunch.
“There’s some superstars on this team,” Bane said. “There’s some NFL players here, and I mean that. Regardless, they have great hearts. A lot of these guys have been damaged, like most of us. What would have taken most men out, they didn’t take these guys out. I like what they’re made of, and they’re starting to fall in love with each other.”
“That’s really our goal,” added Bane. “How fast can we fall and then, just give, and then just give, and just give. That scoreboard is small compared to the mission that we are on here at West Texas A&M.”
Lynn holds nothing but praise for his new OC. If anything, Bane is genuine with his players.
“His whole deal is 100 percent honesty,” Lynn said. “He doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but with that, he’s the most caring guy around. When he’s on the field, it’s all business. Off the field, it’s just 10 percent football and 90 percent everything else. He’s had a tough life, but he relates a lot to some of our players.”
The feelings from Bane are mutual.
“Coach Lynn is as good of a man as I know in this game,” said Bane. “His yays are yays, and his nays are nays. But there’s no doubt about it. He’s a good man.”
While allowing his players to fly around and generate excitement, Bane preaches to his players something very simple — play for the name on your chest, and play for the name on the back of your jersey.
“You get good at what you practice,” Bane said, elaborating on that mindset. “Let’s get to practice and give everything we have for something noble, something worthy. We love this mission that we’re on, and this team is really beginning to really ingratiate themselves to the mission. They’ll be willing to give anything, and elite talent, given what it has, I’ll take my chances.”
On the field, his style of play is up-tempo. Bane wants to build up his team’s stamina, and eventually wear down his opponents as the game progresses.
“I hope that we’re applying pressure on every play,” said Bane. “We shouldn’t be afraid of much, just because we’re out there. I like offense. We like the ball snapped, my o-line likes to block and receivers like to run. Quarterbacks like to get their name in the paper, and running backs can do it all.”
“From a schematic standpoint, we’re going to utilize the whole field and really just let great players be themselves,” he continued. “We want to be free, fast, fun and then physical, with two Fs.”
Lynn noted that the offensive employs a “keep it simple” line of thought.
“We’ve really simplified,” said Lynn. “We’re very simple, but simple in the finest details. We don’t move on to anything else until we get really, really good. It’s been really good for our young men. This is a simplification to where our guys could play really fast. It’s been a big deal for us.”
Following the second scrimmage, which took place last Thursday at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium, graduate transfer RJ Martinez has emerged as the starting quarterback for the Buffs. However, Bane acknowledged that the quarterback competition — which featured senior Sean “Fats” Johnson, redshirt freshman Knox Porter and seven more signal callers — was a great thing to have.
“I’d be hard pressed to find a better quarterback room at most levels than this,” Bane said. “There’s some elite talent in that room. I wouldn’t say we have just a competition, but it’s kind of starting to separate itself into the roles they’ll have. I can’t wait to watch these guys turn it loose.”
For every coach, regardless of the level of play, the ultimate goal is to win as many games as possible and to finish the season as champion. Bane is grateful to be a part of something greater — a community.
“We like to play as long as possible,” Bane said of his goals for the Buffs. “I’m going to sound corny, but every day that we wake up, we wake up and get to be together.”
“It’s kind of a dream come true,” added Bane. “These kids are unbelievable, and this is a very special place. I’m honored to be at WT and in the Panhandle. Annie and my son, Champ, this place will give every ounce that we got. I know this team is going to follow along and get to ripping.”
The Buffs will put their new offense into practice in their regular season opener, when they face No. 10-ranked Western Colorado on Thursday, August 28, at the Mountaineer Bowl in Gunnison, Colorado.