Tennessee Vols defensive coordinator Tim Banks named as head coach candidate for open college football job
There’s no guarantee that defensive coordinator Tim Banks will return for the Tennessee Vols in 2026.
It’s unclear right now if Tim Banks will return as the Tennessee Vols’ defensive coordinator in 2026.
The Vols are expected to have some coaching staff turnover this offseason.
Banks could be a candidate to be replaced after the Vols’ defense struggled in 2025, finishing the regular season as the No. 92 scoring defense in the nation.
Tim Banks named as head coach candidate for open college football job
If Tennessee makes a defensive coordinator change this offseason, the expectation is that Banks will leave for another job rather than be fired.
Banks isn’t as in-demand as a head coach candidate as he was a year ago due to the Vols’ up-and-down defensive season.
The Detroit native, however, was named as a candidate for Toledo’s head coaching job.
“The 53-year-old Tennessee defensive coordinator has strong MAC ties,” wrote The Toledo Blade’s David Briggs. “Banks, a Detroit native, played at Ball State and coached at Bowling Green and Central Michigan.”
Banks would be a strong regional fit at Toledo. And with Banks turning 54 next week, he may feel he’s running out of time to land a head coaching gig, which would make this a tough job to turn down if he gets an offer.
If Vols head coach Josh Heupel makes any coaching staff changes, they’ll need to happen quickly — getting those moves done before the transfer portal opens in early January would be extremely beneficial for Tennessee.
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