Tennessee is expected to part ways with defensive coordinator Tim Banks, according to multiple reports.
Austin Price of Volquest was first to report that news on Monday, noting that Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel has decided to go in a different direction for next season.
Tennessee was expected to have one of the best defenses in the country in 2025, but the Vols struggled mightily on that side of the ball. Tennessee finished the year ranked outside the top-60 nationally in yards per play allowed.
Tennessee didn’t have its top 2 cornerbacks for virtually the entire season, but the Vols didn’t only struggle against the pass. They also regressed against the run as the Vols conceded 3.92 yards per carry in 2025. That ranked 11th in the SEC.
Given the struggles and a disappointing 8-4 campaign, Heupel has decided to part ways with Banks and look for a new defensive coordinator for 2026. Banks has been Tennessee’s defensive coordinator since the 2021 season and had multiple successful years in Knoxville before falling off in 2025.
Tennessee has not yet announced this move.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
