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It took a lot longer than expected, but Tennessee football appears to have finally hired its defensive coordinator. For the second time in five years, The Vols are adding someone from the Penn State Nittany Lions to do so.
Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel reports that UT is adding PSU defensive co-coordinator and safety coach Tim Banks to lead defense in Josh Heupel’s first staff. Banks has been in his current position for five years.
James Franklin appointed Banks to his current role in 2016 after Tennessee football, ironically, hired Penn State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop in the same role under Butch Jones. Shoop replaced John Jancek at the time. Thamel broke the news on Twitter.
Sources: Tennessee is finalizing a deal to hire Penn State defensive co-coordinator Tim Banks as the school’s new DC. Banks has extensive DC experience including Illinois, Cincinnati, and central Michigan.
– Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 15, 2021
Adding a Penn State defensive coach to the defensive coordinator position isn’t the only way this move is a nod to the Jones era. Banks rose through the ranks of coaching under Jones’ leadership at various schools, where he experienced his greatest success.
From 2007 to 2009, Banks was Jones’ defensive coordinator with the central Michigan Chippewas. He helped Jones win two MAC championships during this time. Then, in 2010 and 2011, he was Jones’ defensive co-coordinator with the Cincinnati Bearcats, helping Jones win a share of the Big East Championship in 2011.
The two have a connection dating back to 1997, when Jones was the offensive coordinator of the Ferris State Bulldogs, his alma mater, while Banks was the defensive backs coach. Both are from Michigan, while Banks is from Detroit and played at CMU from 1991 to 1994.
In addition to his experience with Jones, Banks was an assistant under Gary Blackney with the Bowling Green Falcons in 1999 and 2000, under Tommy West with the Memphis Tigers in 2001 and 2002, and under Ralph Friedgen with the Maryland Terrapins from 2003 to 2006.
From 2012 to 2015, Banks was the defensive co-coordinator of the Illinois Fighting Illini under Tim Beckman and then Bill Cubit. He has experience coaching defensive backs and linebackers, so he brings a lot to the table.
However, banks have not always been linked to success. Memphis didn’t reach the bowl until the year after he left. After winning the ACC in 2001 and going 11-3 in 2002, Maryland missed two bowl games and only had one top 25 in the four years that Banks was there. Bowling Green saw immediate success under Urban Meyer after Blackney and his staff, including banks, were laid off.
Those things combined with being related to Jones are all concerns. At the same time, Penn State reached new heights under Franklin following the arrival of Banks, winning the Big Ten in 2016 and finishing in the top 25 for four consecutive years. They hadn’t finished in the top 25 since Joe Paterno ran the show before getting there.
Put simply, Banks’ track record is mixed. However, he has a proven track record and is a well-known recruiter in the land of the Big Ten. Those are bright spots for Tennessee football and, considering what they were up against, he’s a good rookie overall.
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