Tennessee Vols assistant could make sense as an option for Northwestern after 2023 season
The football program at Northwestern is in a bit of disarray after longtime head coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired earlier this week due to hazing that has gone on in the program. Fitzgerald denies knowledge of the hazing, but Northwestern fired him because as the head coach, he's expected to have a handle on every […]
The football program at Northwestern is in a bit of disarray after longtime head coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired earlier this week due to hazing that has gone on in the program.
Fitzgerald denies knowledge of the hazing, but Northwestern fired him because as the head coach, he's expected to have a handle on every aspect of the program.
On Thursday, ESPN reported that Northwestern is moving forward with defensive coordinator David Braun as the program's interim head coach in 2023. The expectation is that Northwestern will undergo a full-blown coaching search after the season.
A lot will obviously transpire between now and the end of the 2023 season. Some coaches that were expected to be candidates will fall off the list due to performance. And other coaches who weren't mentioned as options will suddenly look like attractive candidates.
One of the coaches who isn't being mentioned right now that could make sense for Northwestern is Vols defensive coordinator Tim Banks.
Banks is one of the more underrated coaches in college football, mostly because Tennessee struggled defensively at times last season.
That was more of a talent issue than a scheme issue (it's also worth noting that Tennessee had several great defensive performances, including against LSU and Clemson).
Banks is well respected and he's spent a lot of his career in Big 10 country. He was born and raised in Detroit (roughly four hours away from Northwestern) and he's coached at several Big 10 programs, including Maryland, Illinois, and Penn State. Banks also has experience at Central Michigan (where he played college football) and Cincinnati.
Northwestern will be looking for a coach with great leadership abilities and integrity — Banks certainly fits the bill. He's also a defensive minded head coach, which worked for Northwestern with Fitzgerald.
There will be plenty of other candidates and Banks might not even be near the top of Northwestern's list this winter.
However, if the Vols' defense takes a big step forward as expected in 2023, Banks will undoubtedly be a hot name in coaching searches. So Tennessee fans should go ahead and get prepared for the possibility that another program could poach the Vols' defensive coordinator after the 2023 season.
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Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
