Defensive coordinator Tim Banks has officially signed a new contract with Tennessee football that makes him one of the sports’ highest paid defensive coordinators.
Banks signed a new three-year contract that will pay him $2.15 million annually over the next three years. The Vols’ assistant coach has spent the last four years in Knoxville. His salary steadily increased over the last four years with him making $1.5 million last year.
The veteran defensive coordinator’s new contract eliminates the bonus structure in his previous contract that saw him earn anywhere from an 8.3% to 16% bonus for either making a bowl game all the way to making the College Football Playoff semifinal. Banks earned a 12% bonus in 2024 due to Tennessee making the College Football Playoffs.
Banks bonuses for making the SEC Championship (2%) and winning the SEC Championship (4%) as well as appearing in the National Championship (2%) and winning the National Championship (4%) remain the same.
A $2.15 million yearly salary would have made Banks the nation’s fourth highest paid assistant coach during the 2024 season. All three coordinators making more annually are defensive coordinators including LSU’s Blake Baker, Michigan’s Wink Martindale and Ohio State’s Jim Knowles. Ole Miss’ Pete Golding made $2.15 million during the 2024 season.
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Tennessee’s defense has steadily improved in Banks’ four seasons leading the way. The Vols had one of the SEC’s best defenses in 2024, allowing just 16.1 points per game. That mark ranked third in the SEC and seventh nationally for the 2024 season.
From a statistical standpoint, the Vols’ defense has improved in each of Banks’ four seasons as defensive coordinator. Tennessee went from allowing 29.1 points per game in 2021, 22.8 points per game in 2022, 20.3 points per game in 2023 and then finally 16.1 points per game in 2024.
While Tennessee’s offense struggled during the 2024 season, Banks’ defense helped carry the Vols to a 10-3 (6-2 SEC) record and a berth in the first 12-team College Football Playoff.
The Vols’ defense did struggle in their two biggest games of the year, allowing 31 points in a loss at Georgia and 42 points in the season-ending loss at Ohio State. But the only other game Tennessee allowed 20-plus points was against Vanderbilt when the Commodores scored on a kick off return and on a short field following a turnover.
Tennessee’s defense loses some key talent this offseason including James Pearce Jr, Will Brooks and Omari Thomas. But the Vols return enough to be good again on the defensive side of the football.