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Contract Details Revealed For New Tennessee Dc Jim Knowles

Bonisiwe Shabane
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contract details revealed for new tennessee dc jim knowles

As expected, new Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Knowles came with a high price tag, but it still may be a bargain. In the 2025 season, Knowles was the highest paid defensive coordinator in college football, earning $3.1 million per year at Penn State. He had two years remaining on his Penn State contract when Tennessee hired him to replace fired defensive coordinator Tim Banks. Knox News obtained the memorandum of understanding between Tennessee and Knowles. Here are the basics of Knowles' deal. Knowles signed a three-year deal with Tennessee that pays him $6.6 million plus bonuses.

He will earn $2 million in the 2026 season, $2.2 million in the 2027 season and $2.4 million in the 2028 season. His contract will expire on Jan. 31, 2029. Tennessee has made a splash hire to run the defense after Josh Heupel decided to let go of Tim Banks. Many fans were happy with the hire of Jim Knowles, but not everyone was. Tim Banks has already moved on from Knoxville as he is now the safeties coach for Auburn, once again coaching with Alex Golesh.

With Banks now gone, it's a chance for Tennessee football to elevate its defense to an elite tier. In 2024 under Banks, the defense was a significant part of the College Football Playoff appearance, but in 2025, the defense took a step back, creating turmoil among fans. Banks is an excellent coach and did a lot of great things for Tennessee, but it's probably best for both parties to move on. New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was brought to Knoxville on a 3-year deal paying him $2.2 million on average, according to On3's Chris Low. Jim Knowles to Tennessee as DC is official. He has a three-year deal that will pay him $2 million in 2026, $2.2 million in 2027 and $2.4 million in 2028.

All things considered, Josh Heupel nailed this hire in my opinion. The timing couldn't have been more perfect for Knowles to be on the market. Matt Campbell was just hired at Penn State, where it's not that surprising he didn't keep Knowles around. Campbell has been with defensive coordinator Jon Heacock since his Toledo days and will likely take him to Happy Valley. better replace inge and especially martinezz too This article/post contains references to products or services from one or more of our advertisers or partners.

We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products or services. Jim Knowles will make less at Tennessee next season than he did at Ohio State in 2024 when he helped the Buckeyes to a national championship. The Volunteers formally announced the hiring of Knowles on Thursday. He’ll take the place of Tim Banks, who was fired on Dec. 8, and he’ll come at a slight discount. According to contract details obtained by On3’s Chris Low, Knowles will be paid $2 million to coordinate the Tennessee defense next season.

Knowles will make $2.2 million in 2027 and $2.4 million in 2028, according to a report from Low. Banks was paid $2.15 million this season. He just inked a 3-year contract extension last January after helping Tennessee to the College Football Playoff, but the defense underperformed this year and that forced Josh Heupel back into the market for a... Tennessee announced the hiring of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles on Thursday. Knowles is receiving a 3 year deal. After one season at Penn State, Jim Knowles is now the defensive coordinator at Tennessee.

(Luke Hales / Getty Images) Tennessee announced Thursday that former Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has been hired for the same role. Knowles was the defensive coordinator for last year’s Ohio State national championship team. He spent three years with the Buckeyes before joining James Franklin at Penn State. Franklin was fired midway through the season, and Penn State this week hired Matt Campbell from Iowa State as its new head coach. Knowles signed a three-year deal with Tennessee that will keep him among the country’s highest-paid coordinators.

The deal calls for him to make $2 million in 2026, $2.2 in 2027 and $2.4 in 2028. 📰 » https://t.co/ta5ehTH2fI#GBO 🍊 pic.twitter.com/AOTI5PO3lh Tennessee football is bringing in a new-look defensive staff under first-year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. The Vols parted ways with Tim Banks, who had worked as defensive coordinator under head coach Josh Heupel since 2021, following the season. UT officially announced its new defensive staff on Friday. Tennessee retains linebackers coach William Inge and defensive line coach Rodney Garner, but adds three new faces in Anthony Poindexter, Andrew Jackson and Michael Hunter Jr.

The new staff holds a combined 101 years of Power Four coaching experience and has produced over 70 NFL Draft picks. All have coached in either a College Football Playoff, New Year’s Six Bowl or BCS Championship with a combined 38 appearances. “We are excited about the experienced defensive staff we have assembled as we start the New Year,” Heupel said in a release. “This group has a long, distinguished track record of outstanding recruiting, player development and coaching technique in either the Big Ten or SEC. They are already in our facility and working hard with Coach Knowles to help restore the standard of defense we expect to play at Tennessee. We would like to formally welcome Anthony, Andrew and Michael to Rocky Top.” New Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is getting his first look at the players he inherits during Music City Bowl practice.

Knowles, who was hired to replace fired defensive coordinator Tim Banks, attended Tennessee football practice and observed players on Dec. 16. He did not coach during practice, but he kept a keen eye on the Vols who can return in the 2026 season to play for him. “I told everybody that it’s a clean slate. It’s like we’re all freaking freshmen again,” junior linebacker Jeremiah Telander said. “Even today, (Knowles) is in the back watching everybody.

But just do what you’re supposed to do every day and be yourself.” Knowles arrived in Knoxville over the weekend and introduced himself to the team. He will not coach in the game when No. 23 Tennessee (8-4) plays Illinois (8-4) in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Nashville.

Instead, linebackers coach William Inge will serve as interim defensive coordinator. Telander, the only defensive player available to media on Dec. 16, indicated that the Vols are running some of Banks’ scheme along with tweaks implemented by the remaining staff. Jim Knowles has been hired as the next Tennessee football defensive coordinator, UT announced Dec. 11. Coach Josh Heupel fired defensive coordinator Tim Banks on Dec.

8 following a lousy season defensively. Jim Knowles has been appointed as the new defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Volunteers, departing from Penn State less than a year after joining the Nittany Lions from Ohio State. His contract with Tennessee is a three-year deal, running through January 2029, with a starting salary over $1 million less than what he was set to earn at Penn State in 2025. Tennessee will pay Knowles $2 million in 2026, with increases to $2.2 million in 2027 and $2.4 million in 2028. The agreement includes a $35,000 moving stipend and a $600 monthly vehicle allowance. Knowles previously developed elite defenses at Oklahoma State and contributed to a national championship victory at Ohio State in 2024.

His experience in the SEC dates back to 2003 with Ole Miss. The move follows Tennessee's decision to part ways with Tim Banks, who is reportedly joining Auburn as a safeties coach. See how this story developed over time. Our AI tracks related coverage to show you the full context—from initial reports to latest updates. Everything important from the NFL, delivered daily at 8 AM ET. No ads.

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