5 Options To Replace Tim Banks As The Tennessee Vols Defensive

Josh Heupel shook up his coaching staff on Monday, firing defensive coordinator Tim Banks after five seasons. This is the first time in five years that Heupel has fired an assistant coach. Banks received a contract extension last offseason after the Vols made the College Football Playoff largely on the back of the defense. However, the unit took a massive step backward in 2025, and it was clear that a change needed to be made. With Banks gone, who will the Vols turn to at defensive coordinator? William Inge has already been named the interim DC for the bowl game, but the team is expected to conduct a thorough search for the full-time job.

Now, let’s identify five candidates who could be realistic candidates for the DC job on Rocky Top. Muschamp is currently working for the Georgia Bulldogs as a defensive analyst. The veteran coach has twice been the head man at an SEC school- with Florida from 2011-14, and with South Carolina from 2016-20. Muschamp was also the DC at Auburn in 2015. Tennessee football fired defensive coordinator Tim Banks on Dec, 8, and now coach Josh Heupel is looking for his replacement. Here are 10 names the Vols could consider for their next defensive coordinator.

Ryan Walters checks a lot of boxes. He is an accomplished defensive coordinator, serving in that role at Missouri (2016-20), Illinois (2021-22) and Washington (2025). In 2022, Illinois allowed only 12.9 points per game, the fewest in the nation. Walters has ties to Heupel. He coached with him at Oklahoma (2012) and Missouri (2016-17). And Walters is capable of running his side of the football while Heupel focuses on offense.

Walters was the coach of Purdue in 2023-24, getting that job at 36 years old. He is now 39. With Tim Banks Fired, Who is Favored to be Tennessee’s New DC in 2026? Who is the Top Candidate to Replace Tim Banks? The Volunteers will be playing in a bowl game for the seventh straight season dating back to 2019. In fact, Tennessee has won at least eight contests in a year for the 4th consecutive season.

However, the program made a significant coaching change before the upcoming Music City Bowl vs. Illinois. More than a week after the regular season finale, the Vols fired defensive coordinator Tim Banks after five seasons. It is unknown who will take over top defense calls on an interim basis. Banks currently has a buyout clause of nearly $4 million. At the time of the coaching change, the 8-4 Volunteers took a step back from a year where they played in the College Football Playoffs.

2024 was the season where Tennessee won ten games and lost in the playoff first round to the eventual national champion Ohio State Buckeyes. Perhaps their biggest win of this year came on September 27, where they edged out Mississippi State in the overtime thriller 41-34. But what sealed Banks’ fate as top defense caller is that the Vols gave up at least 30 points per contest in six games played in the regular season. Banks first became the program’s defensive coordinator in 2021 after the departure of Derrick Ansley for the Los Angeles Chargers. The former guided the Vols to one College Football Playoff berth and four bowl games. Under the direction of Josh Heupel, Tennessee won two postseason contests: 2022 Orange vs.

Clemson and 2024 Citrus vs. Iowa. However, the Knoxville-based school has not played in the SEC Championship Game since 2007. Throughout his time in San Diego, the team compiled a 45-19 record (24-16 in the SEC Conference and 2-2 in bowl games). Before joining Tennessee, Banks held the same role for the following programs: Penn State (2016-2020), Illinois (2012-2015), Cincinnati (2010-2011), and Central Michigan (2007-2009). He led the Nittany Lions to the Big Ten Championship in 2016 as well as two New Year’s Bowl victories.

Banks also took the Fighting Illini to the 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl, where they lost to Louisiana Tech. He was a part of the Bearcats coaching staff that won ten games in 2011 and a #21 spot in the Top 25 College Football Rankings. I think Colin Hitschler is the man for the DC position. He’s done an amazing job at James Madison. No doubt about it in my mind that he’s the one Heupel should go for. GO BIG ORANGE!!

Josh Heupel fired Tennessee Vols defensive coordinator Tim Banks today, marking the first time in his career that he has fired an assistant coach. So now, where do the Vols go from here, to fill that role? Tennessee is searching for its next defensive coordinator after parting ways with Tim Banks on Monday. He served as Tennessee's defensive coordinator since 2021. No. 23 Tennessee (8-4, 4-4 SEC) is also preparing for the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl on Dec.

30 against Illinois (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten). Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. EST at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee (ESPN). "I want to thank Tim for everything he has done for Tennessee the last five seasons," Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said. "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. "These are tough decisions but one I ultimately felt was necessary for the future of our program. We are fully committed to identifying our next defensive coordinator who will uphold the standard that Tennessee has historically been known for." Linebackers coach William Inge will serve as Tennessee's interim defensive coordinator for the Music City Bowl against Illinois. He served as co-defensive coordinator at Washington from 2022-23 and defensive coordinator at Fresno State from 2020-21. Tennessee football fired defensive coordinator Tim Banks on Dec, 8, and now coach Josh Heupel is looking for his replacement.

Here are 10 names the Vols could consider for their next defensive coordinator.Ryan Walters, Washington defensive coordinator Ryan Walters checks a lot of boxes. He is an... read full story Answer for your question of the article will be displayed here ...

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