Home / Sports / Tennessee Parts Ways With Tim Banks After Struggling Defense
Tennessee Parts Ways With Tim Banks After Struggling Defense
8 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Defensive coordinator Tim Banks was dismissed by Tennessee on Monday.
- The Vols' defense ranked 92nd in scoring and 88th in yards allowed.
- Banks' contract with the Vols was worth over $2 million annually.
Tennessee has parted ways with defensive coordinator Tim Banks, sources informed ESPN. Banks, who joined the Vols in 2021, was dismissed following a significant decline in the team's defensive performance throughout the 2025 season. The unit concluded the regular season ranked 92nd in scoring defense and 88th in total yards allowed.
This dismissal stands in stark contrast to the previous 2024 season, where Banks orchestrated one of the nation's top defenses, propelling Tennessee to its first College Football Playoff appearance. That year, the Vols ranked seventh nationally in points allowed and tenth in tackles for loss, earning Banks a finalist nomination for the Broyles Award.
The 2025 season saw a dramatic dip, with the defense allowing at least 30 points in seven SEC games and finishing 115th nationally in pass defense. Banks' departure comes less than a year after signing a contract extension through 2027, valued at over $2 million annually.
