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ESPN: Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks one of 33 coaches 'next in line for big jobs'

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•09/26/24•

GrantRamey

Tim Banks Tennessee Football
(© Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK) Defensive coordinator Tim Banks coaches players during a drill during Tennessee Football's first fall practice, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023.

Tennessee Football defensive coordinator Tim Banks was one 33 coaches listed by ESPN this week as “in line for big jobs.” Banks was the first coached named under coaches “worth keeping an eye on” by Adam Rittenberg.

“(Josh) Heupel’s offense always grabs the attention at Tennessee,” Rittenberg wrote, “but more are taking note of the Vols’ growth on defense under Banks, especially after how the team won at Oklahoma.

“The Vols rose from 35th in scoring defense to No. 22 last year, and they are No. 5 through the first four games while leading the FBS in fewest yards allowed per game (176).”

Tennessee’s defense leading the way in 4-0 start

The Vols are ranked No. 5 in scoring defense, giving up just 7.0 points per game. Tennessee is second nationally against the run, giving up 50.7 yards per game, and 11th against the pass, allowing 125.3 yards per game. 

Heupel hired Banks away from Penn State in 2021. He also made stops at Illinois, Cincinnati, Central Michigan, Maryland, Memphis, Ferris State and Bowling Green in a coaching career that dates back to 1996.

“Banks, 52, hasn’t generated much buzz so far as a head-coaching candidate,” Rittenberg wrote, “but brings coordinator experience from four schools, and has worked extensively in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic and mid-South. He would be a good fit for AAC and MAC jobs and might rise even higher.”

Former Tennessee OC Alex Golesh ‘brings an appealing mix of exciting offense and pedal-down recruiting’

Rittenberg also mentioned South Florida head coach and former Tennessee offensive coordinator Alex Golesh as a coach who is in line to run a bigger program.  

“Golesh has stabilized an underachieving South Florida program in his first head-coaching opportunity and could soon move up to a bigger job,” Rittenberg wrote. “The 40-year-old brings an appealing mix of exciting offense and pedal-down recruiting, and he has worked in different regions of the country.”

Golesh, Tennessee’s offensive coordinator in 2021 and 2022, led South Florida to a 7-6 record last season and a win in the Boca Raton Bowl. USF’s seven wins came after the Bulls went 1-11 in 2022.

“Golesh lacks a clear signature win at USF,” Rittenberg wrote, “but his teams competed with Alabama in each of his two seasons, and pushed Miami in the first half last week. He should also be helped by the blistering success of Heupel’s offense, which he helped coordinate at both UCF and Tennessee before coming to South Florida. 

“Golesh also spent time under Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and could be a fit both in the Southeast and Midwest.”

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