Coach Bannon led Rider to five conference championship games, with one East Coast Conference appearance and four in the Northeast Conference. He also guided the Broncs to two conference championships and back-to-back NEC titles which garnered two NCAA appearances. Bannon reached the 100-win plateau faster than any other Rider basketball coach, compiling a 131-103 record during his eight seasons at Rider (1989-90 to 1996-97). Twice voted the NEC Coach of the Year, Bannon was also a Metropolitan Basketball Writers Coach of the Year and a New Jersey Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year. His teams were 40-6 in Alumni Gym against NEC teams, helping to create the “Broncs’ Zoo.” Bannon inherited a Rider team that was 5-23 and improved every year until going 21-9 in 1994. His Broncs won 18 or more games in a season five times.