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Tennessee Football Announces Defensive Coaching Staff Additions

Bonisiwe Shabane
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tennessee football announces defensive coaching staff additions

Tennessee Football on Friday night announced the hiring of Anthony Poindexter as co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach, Andrew Jackson as LEOs coach and Michael Hunter Jr. as cornerbacks coach. The three additions were made by Tennessee coach Josh Heupel and his new defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles. “We are excited about the experienced defensive staff we have assembled as we start the New Year,” Heupel said in a press 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.” Poindexter spent the last five seasons as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Penn State, working under Knowles last season. He had four Penn State safeties selected in the NFL Draft, including three in the first three rounds. Josh Heupel announced his 2026 Tennessee football coaching staff after firing multiple assistants and reshaping it for new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. UT announced the staff changes on Jan. 2, three days after the Vols (8-5) lost 30-28 to Illinois in the Music City Bowl to finish a disappointing 2025 season.

Heupel fired defensive coordinator Tim Banks and secondary coach Willie Martinez. Outside linebacker coach Levorn Harbin will no longer be part of the on-field coaching staff. Heupel did not retain strength coach Kurt Schmidt, whose contract expires Jan. 31. And he did not retain assistant secondary coach Earnest Thomas, who was not under contract as a support staff member. Heupel hired former Penn State co-defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter (co-defensive coordinator/secondary), former Penn State assistant Andrew Jackson (edge rushers) and former Ohio State assistant Michael Hunter Jr.

(cornerbacks) because of their familiarity with Knowles' defensive scheme. Defensive line coach Rodney Garner and linebackers coach William Inge were retained. Jim Knowles wasn’t in Nashville this week for good reason as the veteran defensive coordinator put the finishing touches on his staff. Knowles and Josh Heupel made a trio of hires this week, adding Anthony Poindexter as safeties coach, Andrew Jackson as EDGE coach and Michael Hunter as cornerbacks coach. Defensive backs coach Willie Martinez will not return to Tennessee. Poindexter was the co-defensive coordinator with Knowles this season at Penn State, while also coaching the safeties.

It was the lone season that Poindexter and Knowles had worked together. Now they’ll continue that relationship in Knoxville, set to try and revamp a Tennessee defense that really struggled in 2025. Andrew Jackson will also follow Knowles coming from Penn State. Jackson coached the EDGE position for the Nittany Lions this past season. He spent four seasons at West Virginia before that. Chop Harbin’s status with Tennessee is unclear at this point.

Tennessee was also able to get Michael Hunter away from Ohio State, where he was the assistant defensive backs coach. Hunter was with Knowles at both Oklahoma State and Ohio State. He’ll be immediately tasked with remaking nearly the entire cornerback room with Jermod McCoy, Rickey Gibson, Boo Carter, Colton Hood and Jalen McMurray on the way out. Expect to see the Volunteers very active in the cornerback market. Great Dog Rescue New England (GDRNE), a dedicated foster-based dog rescue in Massachusetts, would like you to meet Gravy Casserole, a teeny tiny puppy who recently came into their care. Gravy was born in shelter care as part of the “darling Casserole litter” to a mother who was rescued in Tennessee from an “abusive backyard breeder.” Now living in a loving foster home alongside...

It took them a bit longer than the rest of the NFL, but the Miami Dolphins ultimately came to the conclusion to fire Mike McDaniel, getting a fresh start at both head coach and... Get ready to meet a tiny little puppy who is searching for the forever family that will make her life complete. Great Dog Rescue New England (GDRNE), a dedicated foster-based dog rescue in Massachusetts, recently introduced Dua Superstar after she came into their care. In regard to Dua, the rescue states, “Found on a dusty Tennessee road with the rest of the SUPERSTAR litter, this resilient runt is ready to ‘Dance the Night’ away with you!” It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human...

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee football has bolstered its 2026 defensive staff under new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles with the addition of three new assistant coaches, head coach Josh Heupel announced. ...... read full story Answer for your question of the article will be displayed here ... The Tennessee Volunteers new that they needed to make some changes, and this is something that was noted following the bowl game, and they have been doing just that. The Vols let go of two staff members on Thursday, and this was one of the bigger headlines of the day, as they didn't just get rid of their coaches, but they made some...

One of the coaches who was let go by the Tennessee Volunteers is Willie Martinez. Martinez served as the Tennessee Volunteers' defensive backs coach for the past five seasons under Josh Heupel. This was a huge move that many fans have been calling for, but we all knew that Jim Knowles (new defensive coach) would make some changes, and he did just that. He already landed the new guy, and it was a BIG one. "Tennessee is expected to hire Ohio State’s Michael Hunter as cornerbacks coach, sources tell @CBSSports. The ex-NFL DB was assistant defensive backs coach at Ohio State the last two years.

Previously worked with new Vols DC at Jim Knowles at both Ohio State and Oklahoma State," said Zenitz in his new X post. The Ohio State Buckeyes coach is one of the best at the position, and has coached some stars, including the best safety in college, Caleb Downs. This was a home run hire for the Vols after firing the guy with the job, and this will be huge, as they also added Andrew Jackson to their staff (who spent time with... Chris Low predicted this three weeks ago, but signs are showing that Knowles may not be done.

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