Up to date Dec. 8, 2025, 1:08 p.m. ET
Josh Heupel has fired Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks after a disappointing 2025 season on that aspect of the ball, the varsity introduced on Dec. 8.
It comes solely a 12 months after Banks was a Broyles Award finalist and signed a contract extension that paid him $2.15 million yearly by means of the 2027 season. However his protection struggled to help UT’s explosive offense, which was among the many highest scoring in faculty soccer.
“I need to thank Tim for all the pieces he has executed for Tennessee the final 5 seasons,” Heupel mentioned in a college launch. “He helped restore our program to nationwide prominence. Extra importantly, Tim is a good man of character and somebody I’ve the utmost respect for. We want Tim all the perfect transferring ahead.”
Linebackers coach William Inge will function interim defensive coordinator when No. 23 Tennessee (8-4) performs Illinois (8-4) within the Music Metropolis Bowl on Dec. 30 (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Nashville. Inge beforehand served as both defensive coordinator or co-defensive coordinator at Northern Iowa (2004), Buffalo (2010-11), Indiana (2013-15), Fresno State (2020-21) and Washington (2022-23).
“These are robust selections however one I in the end felt was needed for the way forward for our program,” Heupel mentioned. “We’re absolutely dedicated to figuring out our subsequent defensive coordinator who will uphold the usual that Tennessee has traditionally been identified for.”
Tim Banks is first coach fired by Josh Heupel
It is an eye-opening transfer from Heupel, who had by no means fired an assistant coach in eight seasons as a head coach. His earlier workers adjustments largely featured assistants leaving for higher jobs.
Banks had been Heupel’s solely defensive coordinator throughout his UT tenure, which started in 2021. There have been ups and downs, and the previous two seasons featured each extremes.
In 2024, Banks guided the stingiest Vols protection for the reason that 1998 nationwide title workforce, permitting solely 16.1 factors per sport. That was pivotal in UT reaching the School Soccer Playoff that season. And, statistically, the 2024 Vols had the perfect defensive season alongside a Heupel offense ever. That features Heupel’s seven seasons as an offensive coordinator and eight seasons as a head coach, spanning 5 faculties.
However issues took a downward flip in 2025. Tennessee allowed not less than 30 factors in seven of eight SEC video games. It ranked 92nd nationally in scoring protection (28.8 ppg) and 116th in move protection (248.8 ypg).
Notably, the secondary was weakened by accidents and inconsistency. All-America cornerback Jermod McCoy suffered a torn ACL in January, and he missed the 2025 season. Beginning cornerback Rickey Gibson suffered an upper-body damage in Week 1 and missed the rest of the season. Nickelback Boo Carter, a preseason All-SEC choice, was dismissed from the workforce in November.
However the Vols additionally struggled with poor tackling, miscommunication and third-down breakdowns.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee soccer beat reporter. Electronic mailadam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, previously generally known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Help sturdy native journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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