Hanks played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, earning All-American honors in 1990.
[2] Hanks attended Lake Highlands High School, where he was a district track-and-field champion.
However, at the NFL scouting combine, his 40-yard dash times were very slow, and he was not drafted until the fifth round by the San Francisco 49ers.
He was well known for his interceptions and returns, as well as his unique "chicken dance" celebrations that were later emulated by basketball star Shaquille O'Neal.
[6] Hanks began his tenure as Conference USA senior associate commissioner in July 2016, a position in which he was responsible for the conference's football and baseball operations, including officiating, scheduling, game operations, player conduct and safety.