New Vols defensive coordinator Jim Knowles drops strong quote about Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel’s ego
New Tennessee Vols defensive coordinator Jim Knowles met with reporters on Thursday in Knoxville.
New Tennessee Vols defensive coordinator Jim Knowles met with reporters in Knoxville on Thursday.
The media session was Knowles’ first time meeting with reporters since being hired by the Volunteers in December.
Knowles explained that a big reason he took the job was because of his first interactions with head coach Josh Heupel.
Jim Knowles says Josh Heupel is a no ego type of guy
Knowles was quick to point out Thursday that Heupel is as “real” as anyone he’s been around.
“Our head coach is as genuine and as real as anybody I’ve been around in terms of wanting the defense to be successful, wanting special teams (to be successful), wanting everybody to be successful,” said Knowles. “He is the farthest thing from a me guy or an ego guy. He’s extremely down to earth. He communicates well. I knew that from the first time I flew in here, and he picked me up himself and took me to his house — which I’d never really done before in that circumstance when you’re just kind of looking at each other to see if it’s going to work.
“So he kind of set that right from the beginning. That’s just the type of person he is and the type of team he wants to have — that he’s going to do what’s best for the whole team.”
When Knowles’ name was first mentioned as a potential option to replace Banks, there were some questions about how his style would mesh with Heupel’s (in part because Knowles had no prior connection to Heupel).
It’s clear from Knowles’ comments on Thursday, though, that he is meshing just fine with Heupel and the rest of the coaching staff that was already at Tennessee.
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