Jim Knowles Is Tennessee Football Defensive Coordinator

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Jan 12, 2026, 9:28 AM

jim knowles is tennessee football defensive coordinator

Penn State's Jim Knowles has replaced Tim Banks as Tennessee's new defensive coordinator, UT announced on Dec. 11. Knowles signed a three-year deal with Tennessee that pays him $6.6 million plus bonuses, according to a memorandum of understanding UT provided to Knox News. 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.

"Hiring Jim Knowles was our top priority from the start of this process," Heupel said in a school release. "Jim has a proven track record of developing elite defenses that play with an edge, and we got to see that first-hand during the 2024 College Football Playoff. His defenses are always physical, well prepared and can adapt quickly in-game against today's complex offenses. "He's a competitor, a winner and someone who will get the most out of our players in practice and on gameday. We are thrilled to welcome Jim to Rocky Top as he helps us chase championships." Players were told about Knowles' hiring during a team meeting.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel watches his players warm up before an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee coach Josh Heupel has hired Jim Knowles as the Volunteers’ new defensive coordinator. Heupel moved quickly after firing coordinator Tim Banks on Monday, and the Volunteers coach said Thursday that hiring Knowles was a priority from the start.

“Jim has a proven track record of developing elite defenses that play with an edge, and we got to see that first-hand during the 2024 College Football Playoff,” Heupel said of the Vols’ first-round... Knowles has coached 38 years in college football with 18 as a defensive coordinator. He spent this season at Penn State and was at Ohio State between 2022 and 2024, helping the Buckeyes win the 2024 national championship. 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. Heupel opted to pluck Knowles from Penn State to fill the role on his staff. Knowles was the defensive coordinator on Ohio State's national championship team in 2024. The Buckeyes' run to the title included a 42-17 win over Tennessee in a College Football Playoff first-round game. Ohio State held the Vols to 256 yards of offense and only 104 yards passing. OSU had the best scoring defense and total defense in the nation in the 2024 season, allowing 12.9 points and 254.6 yards per game.

It ranked third in passing defense (167 yards per game) and rushing defense (87.6 yards per game). Tennessee has hired Jim Knowles as its next defensive coordinator following the firing of Tim Banks earlier this week, the university announced Thursday. The move signals a major effort by coach Josh Heupel to re-establish his team's defensive identity after a costly drop-off in performance in 2025. Banks, who was dismissed Monday after five seasons in Knoxville, saw his defense collapse this fall. Once a unit that helped carry Tennessee into the College Football Playoff just a season ago, the Volunteers surrendered 28.8 points per game and allowed 395.5 yards on average -- both third-worst in the... Enter Knowles, who after spending 2025 at Penn State, was not retained by incoming coach Matt Campbell and found a landing spot in Knoxville.

Knowles' coaching résumé is among the most decorated for a defensive coordinator. Before Penn State, he spent three seasons as defensive coordinator at Ohio State -- including the 2024 national championship season, when his defense ranked No. 1 in the country in both scoring (12.9) and total defense (254.6). "Hiring Jim Knowles was our top priority from the start of this process," Heupel said in a statement. "Jim has a proven track record of developing elite defenses that play with an edge, and we got to see that first-hand during the 2024 College Football Playoff. His defenses are always physical, well prepared and can adapt quickly in-game against today's complex offenses.

He's a competitor, a winner and someone who will get the most out of our players in practice and on gameday. Jim Knowles (born April 16, 1965) is an American college football coach and former player. He is currently the defensive coordinator at University of Tennessee. Knowles served as the head football coach at Cornell University from 2004 to 2009. A 1987 graduate of Cornell University, Knowles was a defensive end on the Big Red football team. He was elected to Cornell's Sphinx Head Society during his senior year, ultimately graduating with a B.S.

in Industrial and Labor Relations in 1987.[1] Prior to receiving the head coach position, Knowles served as an assistant at Cornell, Western Michigan University and the University of Mississippi. From 2004 to 2009, he compiled a 26–34 record as head football coach at Cornell University. On December 28, 2009, Knowles was named the defensive coordinator at Duke under head coach David Cutcliffe. Knowles had previously served as linebackers coach under Cutcliffe while he was head coach at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in 2003.[2] On January 29, 2018, Knowles was hired as the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State under head coach Mike Gundy,[3][4] and held the position through the 2021 season. During Knowles' time at Oklahoma State, the Cowboys' defense saw significant statistical improvements.

After regressing in areas like opponent points per play and opponent yards per play during Knowles' first season,[5][6] Oklahoma State's defense improved in each of Knowles' next three seasons.[7][8][9][10][11][12] For the 2021 season, Knowles'... 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.

Jim Knowles Is Tennessee Football Defensive Coordinator

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