Tim Bankston, a respected basketball coach and mentor in the Chicago area, was fatally shot Wednesday morning in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood on the city’s South Side. Bankston, 60, who had a distinguished career as a player and coach, was found with a gunshot wound to his abdomen inside a residence near South Emerald Street shortly before 10 a.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and authorities have classified the death as a homicide. As of Thursday morning, no arrests had been made.
According to police reports, Bankston had stopped by the apartment of a friend who was not home at the time. Upon the friend’s return, he found the rear door ajar and Bankston unresponsive on the floor. There were no other reported injuries related to the incident.
Bankston was a familiar figure in the Chicago basketball community, admired for both his athletic achievements and his role as a mentor. He first gained recognition as a player, leading Simeon Career Academy to a state title in 1984 and later playing college basketball at Bradley University and Loyola University Chicago. Bankston began coaching at Thornton Fractional North High School (T.F. North) in 1997, serving as both an assistant coach and special education aide before taking over the basketball program in 2002. He was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2004 and founded the annual Bob Hambric Shootout to honor a former Simeon coach.
Colleagues, former players, and community members described Bankston as a figure whose influence extended far beyond the basketball court. Wayne Montgomery, a former player who considered Bankston a surrogate father after losing his own, stressed the coach’s emphasis on discipline, honesty, and academic success. “He was so much more than just a coach. A mentor, a friend, a teacher,” Montgomery said. Other coaches noted his competitive spirit and commitment to teaching life lessons through sports.
Alderman David Moore, who knew Bankston since high school, described him as “hilarious” and disciplined, with a legacy that transcended basketball. Moore highlighted Bankston’s ability to relate to young people facing trauma and challenges, helping them stay out of trouble and realize their potential. The Thornton Fractional High School District 215 expressed deep sorrow at the loss and announced that grief counseling would be made available to staff and students.
Bankston’s family declined to comment when contacted following the shooting. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death remains ongoing.