‘Probably the best defensive coordinator in the country’ – Tennessee Vols have a promising option to replace Tim Banks
The Tennessee Vols are searching for a new defensive coordinator after parting ways with Tim Banks on Monday.
The Tennessee Vols’ search for a new defensive coordinator isn’t expected to take long.
Tennessee officially parted ways with defensive coordinator Tim Banks on Monday.
Banks had served as Tennessee’s defensive coordinator since 2021. This is a hire that Vols head coach Josh Heupel has to get right, as making the wrong hire could put him on the hot seat (a situation that’s true for nearly any coach replacing a fired coordinator).
Candidate to replace Tim Banks at Tennessee was once described as “Probably the best defensive coordinator in the country”
For now, there’s no leading candidate in Tennessee’s search for a new defensive coordinator.
One name, however, that seems to be a realistic possibility is Washington Huskies defensive coordinator Ryan Walters, a former Colorado defensive back who was college teammates with Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt.
Walters is a name that makes sense because he coached with Heupel for two seasons at Missouri (2016 and 2017) and one season at Oklahoma (2012).
The Los Angeles native has a solid track record as a defensive coordinator. Illinois, for example, had the best defense in the nation under Walters in 2022.
Washington finished with the No. 22 scoring defense in the nation in 2025. The Huskies’ defense held up well in losses to Ohio State and Oregon, two of the top teams in college football.
When Washington head coach Jedd Fisch hired Walters earlier this year, he suggested that the former Purdue head coach is the best defensive coordinator in the nation.
“Ryan Walters is probably the best defensive coordinator in the country,” said Fisch in February. “Hiring Ryan was a huge priority for us, he was the candidate I immediately went after upon having the final conversation with Steve…we certainly felt that everything Ryan had to offer is perfect for what we needed.”
Walters has a reputation as a solid recruiter (he was key in Washington landing 2026 four-star safety Gavin Day), he has SEC experience, and he’s had success at programs where it’s tough to be successful.
I’m not saying Walters would be a home run hire — I don’t believe there’s such a thing as “home run hires” (you never know how any hire will actually work out) — but it’s easy to see why Heupel may have interest in the 39-year-old assistant coach.
There are plenty of quality candidates out there. It’s up to Heupel to figure out which candidate is the best option to help take Tennessee’s defense to the next level.
Tennessee Volunteers News
One thing Vols head coach Josh Heupel must avoid while searching for a defensive coordinator to replace Tim Banks at Tennessee
The Tennessee Vols parted ways with defensive coordinator Tim Banks on Monday.
