On Monday, the Tennessee Volunteers fired defensive coordinator Tim Banks after five seasons with the team. A few days later, Tennessee announced the hiring of Jim Knowles (Penn State) as its next defensive coordinator.
This season, Tennessee has allowed an average of 395.5 yards per game, ranking No. 87 in the nation. Additionally, they have given up 248.8 passing yards per game (No. 113) and 146.6 rushing yards per game (No. 62). So, it was evident that head coach Josh Heupel needed to make a change.
Speaking of Heupel, Banks is the first coach he has fired since arriving in Knoxville in 2021.
“I want to thank Tim for everything he has done for Tennessee the last five seasons,” Heupel said Monday. “He helped restore our program to national prominence. More importantly, Tim is a great man of character and someone I have the utmost respect for. We wish Tim all the best moving forward.”
So now that the Volunteers have found their next defensive coordinator, here are some things to know about their new coach:
Jim Knowles
Jim Knowles is a longtime defensive coach with 18 years of experience as a defensive coordinator. He previously served as Penn State’s defensive coordinator this season and helped lead Ohio State’s defense to a national championship in 2024. Knowles was also a defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, Duke, and Western Michigan.
Previous Coaching Experience:
- Cornell DL (1988)
- Cornell RB (1989–1994)
- Cornell LB/RC (1995–1996)
- Western Michigan DL (1997–2000)
- Western Michigan DC (2001–2002)
- Ole Miss LB/RC (2003)
- Cornell HC (2004-2009)
- Duke DC/S (2010–2011)
- Duke DC (2012–2014)
- Duke DC/ILB (2015–2017)
- Oklahoma State DC (2018–2021)
- Ohio State DC (2022–2024)
- Penn State DC (2025)
Knowles is known for turning around bad defenses, but his schemes are reportedly difficult to grasp. So, he might need adequate time to point Tennessee’s defense in the right direction. On3 college football reporter Chris Low shared a similar sentiment:
When Knowles arrived at Duke in 2010, he inherited a defense that ranked 83rd in the country; however, he brought the Blue Devils’ defense up to No. 24 by 2014. In his first season at Oklahoma State (2017), his defense ranked 97th in the nation but improved to No. 9 in 2021.
Last season, he coached an Ohio State squad that allowed only 254.6 yards per game, giving the Buckeyes the No. 1 defense in the FBS. So, his experience should aid the Vols in upcoming seasons, but it might take a few years for the players to adjust to his defense.
During his national championship run in 2024, Knowles’ defense limited six top-10 teams to fewer than 21 points. That same season, the Buckeyes ranked second in the nation in sacks (53) and limited opposing rushing attacks to an average of fewer than 90 yards per game.
Before becoming a coach, Knowles played defensive end at Cornell University from 1983 to 1986. Upon graduating, he served as a defensive line coach at his alma mater for a season (1988) before coaching other positions at Cornell until 1996. He later served as Western Michigan’s defensive line coach from 1997 to 2000, then as the school’s defensive coordinator in 2001.
He eventually became Ole Miss’s linebackers coach in 2003 before returning to Cornell as a head coach for six seasons (2004-09). As a head coach, he compiled a 26-34 overall record, including a 24-34 loss to a Ryan Fitzpatrick-led Harvard team in 2004.
Knowles has also coached multiple All-Americans and defensive players of the year, including Jason Babin, Caleb Downs, and Jeremy Cash, showcasing his prowess as one of the best defensive minds in college football.
Notable Players Coached:
DE Jason Babin, Western Michigan:
- Second-team All-Pro (2011)
- Two-time Pro Bowl (2010, 2011)
- Second-team All-American (2003)
- Two-time MAC Defensive Player of the Year (2002, 2003)
- Two-time first-team All-MAC (2002, 2003)
- Second-team All-MAC (2001)
DB Caleb Downs, Ohio State:
- Jim Thorpe Award (2025)
- Lott Trophy (2025)
- Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2025)
- CFP national championship (2024)
- Unanimous All-American (2024)
- Second-team All-American (2023)
- Two-time Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year (2024, 2025)
- Two-time first-team All-Big Ten (2024, 2025)
- SEC Freshman of the Year (2023)
- First-team All-SEC (2023)
DB Jeremy Cash, Duke:
- ACC Defensive Player of the Year (2015)
- Consensus All-American (2015)
- Two-time first-team All-ACC (2013, 2015)
- Second-team All-ACC (2014)
LB Malcom Rodriguez, Oklahoma State:
- First-team All-American (2021)
- First-team All-Big 12 (2021)
- Two-time second-team All-Big 12 (2019, 2020)
Overview
This will be the first time Knowles has had complete control over an SEC defense, but his résumé suggests he will find success over time. Even if Knowles does not live up to expectations, Heupel still needed to make a change, and it seems like Tennessee has found itself a reputable replacement.
