The Tennessee Vols have, in a sense, gotten the band back together to some degree with their new coaching staff. Joining new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles in Knoxville are a couple of coaches who previously worked with him, including outside linebacker (LEO) coach Andrew Jackson.

Jackson came over from Penn State with Knowles, where the two coached together in 2025. He served as assistant defensive line coach for the Nittany Lions last season. Before that, Jackson spent four years at West Virginia as their defensive line coach. The Mountaineers ranked first in the Big 12 in sacks in 2023 with 33.

Now, Jackson will be tasked with filling an important role on the coaching staff — getting the most out of the Vols’ edge rushing group that’s spearheaded by a player he knows well: OLB Chaz Coleman, who came over in the transfer portal last month.

Jackson met with the media for the first time on Thursday, and he gave a behind-the-curtain look at the Vols’ new defensive coordinator with a personal story about their time together at Penn State. Jackson was dealing with the loss of his mother last February, and Knowles helped him get through it by keeping him busy.

Tennessee OLB coach Andrew Jackson says DC Jim Knowles helped him deal with the loss of his mother

“The opportunity to work with coach (Jim) Knowles again,” Jackson said. “He helped me through a little turmoil I was going through when my mom passed last season in February. Basically, gave me something to do to get past that. The opportunity to come to Tennessee, a great place, to work with coach (Josh) Heupel. Another opportunity to come back to the SEC and coach. (To) coach with Coach Garner definitely was an eye-opening opportunity for me, too.

“He’s a tough love kind of guy. I think he had known I was going through some grief. So, I think he knows keeping busy, the love I have for the game and giving me tasks to do just so I’m not sitting there sulking. I think he took special note to that and helped me through it.”

Being a good coach, particularly a coordinator, means being able to read people well, both players and coaches on your staff. It requires being able to understand them and communicate with them in a way that is meaningful and has an impact.

It certainly appears as though Knowles knew exactly what Jackson needed to hear and do in order to get through the painful ordeal of the loss of his mother.

Tennessee Volunteers News

ESPN projects landing spot for former Tennessee WR Jauan Jennings that would bring him much closer to Big Orange country

The VFL will have plenty of suitors, but one relatively close franchise to Knoxville would make a good bit of sense.

Craig Smith