Tennessee’s defensive coordinator doesn’t appear to be going anywhere.
According to a report from ESPN’s Chris Low on Wednesday morning, Tennessee is finalizing an extension with defensive coordinator Tim Banks.
“Tim Banks and Tennessee are finalizing an extension for him to remain as Vol Football’s defensive coordinator, sources tell ESPN,” Low posted. “Banks, a Broyles Award finalist, led one of the top defenses in college football last season, holding 11 of 13 opponents under 20 points.”
Tim Banks and Tennessee are finalizing an extension for him to remain as @Vol_Football’s defensive coordinator, sources tell ESPN. Banks, a Broyles Award finalist, led one of the top defenses in college football last season, holding 11 of 13 opponents under 20 points.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) January 15, 2025
Banks’ extension is the first big piece of coaching news out of Tennessee since the Vols’ season ended against Ohio State in the first round of the playoffs. Tennessee did hire former Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones as an offensive analyst in the wake of McKenzie Milton leaving for UCF, but this is the first big piece of news from Tennessee’s primary coaching staff.
Tim Banks joined Josh Heupel’s inaugural staff at Tennessee prior to the 2021 season and has led the Volunteers’ defense ever since. Banks joined Tennessee after previously spending time at Penn State, Illinois, and Cincinnati, among other stops.
Banks also serves as Tennessee’s safeties coach.
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As his tenure has gone on at Tennessee, Banks’ defenses have steadily improved as the coaching staff was able to add and develop key talent on all three levels.
During the 2024 season, Tennessee’s defense gave up just 16.1 points per game and held all but three of its opponents under 20 points and eight of its ten Power 4 opponents under their season scoring average.
Tennessee’s defense also ranked in the top 20 in several categories this past season including total defense (6), third-down conversion percentage (7), fourth-down conversion percentage (3), first-down defense (17), rushing defense (10), and team tackles for loss (8).
Banks’ defense has also improved overall throughout the years:
2024: 209 points allowed, 3,812 total yards allowed
2023: 264 points allowed, 4,357 total yards allowed
2022: 296 points allowed, 5,269 total yards allowed
2021: 378 points allowed, 5,482 total yards allowed
As the numbers indicate, Banks’ defense took two big jumps in the four seasons that he has been at the helm on Rocky Top. The first came after his first season in Knoxville where Tennessee knocked off 82 points from opponent scoring between the 2021 season and the 2022 season. While the 2023 defense improved on the opponent’s total offensive yards by a wide margin, the jump that Banks’ defense took in 2024 was almost jarring. What was once a Tennessee team known for its offense carrying its defense to the finish line has now flipped. Tennessee’s defense became the Vols’ calling card in 2024.
Banks’ name bounced around in a few reports for other DC jobs since the end of the season but nothing clearly materialized to a point that would take him away from Knoxville. Instead, he will return to a familiar staff to continue working to build Tennessee’s defense.
When Banks was first hired to Josh Heupel’s Tennessee staff in early 2021, he signed a three-year, $4.2-million dollar deal to be the Vols’ defensive coordinator. That deal was extended through the 2024 season in 2022.
While some Tennessee fans still have a bitter taste in their mouths from Ohio State’s 42-point outpouring against the Vols in the playoffs, there’s no denying that Banks’ defense still put together one of Tennessee’s best seasons since the championship run in the late 90s. Tennessee’s defensive success was instrumental to the team’s success and was a critical factor behind Tennessee’s first-ever run to the College Football Playoffs.
Banks has also ushered a handful of players to the NFL including DT Matthew Butler, DB Theo Jackson, DB Alontae Taylor, DE Byron Young, and DB Kamal Hadden. That also doesn’t include DE James Pearce Jr., who is projected to be a first-round draft pick in 2025.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more news on Tim Banks’ reported extension with Tennessee after the athletic department releases more details.
