Northern Illinois University Athletics

Brandon Bannon is in his second season as an assistant coach for the NIU Baseball program. In his first season, the Huskies won 21 games and went 14-16 in the MAC. NIU defeated two Power Five programs in 2024, winning at Cincinnati on March 2 and at Northwestern on March 26. Three student-athletes earned All-MAC Second Team honors in catcher Colin Summerhill, outfielder Eric Erato and pitcher Adam Brouwer. 

Bannon played for head coach Ryan Copeland during his tenure at Illinois-Springfield. As a freshman in 2019, Bannon was a Second-Team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference selection after hitting .337 with 12 doubles and 40 runs batted in while stealing 14 bases. In 2022 Bannon was named to the All-GLVC First Team after finishing the season third in the nation with 87 runs scored. He hit .374 with a .474 on-base percentage while collecting 19 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs and 54 RBI. Bannon was a Second Team ABCA All-Region honoree as the Prairie Stars went 48-11 and reached the NCAA Division II Championship tournament. 

He finished his career in 2023 as UIS' all-time leader in hits (284) runs (239), games played (239), games started (213), doubles (50), RBI (180), and walks (138), while also being in the top-10 in batting average (.351), on-base percentage (.453), slugging percentage (.530), triples (7), home runs (27), total bases (341), stolen bases (44).