There's a long way to go until the end of the 2024 season, but that shouldn't stop Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel from having a plan for a potential coaching staff issue that could arise for the program. 

Tennessee enters the 2024 season as a team that has the potential to reach the College Football Playoff. Redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava is a big reason for the hype surrounding the program, but he's not the only reason. 

The Vols' much-improved defense is what could ultimately take the program to the next level. 

Under defensive coordinator Tim Banks, the Vols have steadily improved on the defensive side of the ball in each of the last three seasons. 

In 2021, which was Banks' first season at Tennessee, the Vols allowed 29.1 points per game. The next season, Tennessee allowed 22.8 points per game. This past season, the Vols continued to improve, allowing just 20.3 points per game. 

Tennessee is expected to have one of the best defensive lines in the nation in 2024 along with a revamped secondary and the return of starting linebacker Keenan Pili. 

It's not a stretch to think that Tennessee could show significantly more improvement on the defensive side of the ball in 2024. And if that happens, Banks could quickly become a popular head coaching candidate. 

"Tim Banks is a candidate for a head coaching job…I'm not sure what his contract situation is, but I look at him as one of those top candidates, whether that be a mid-major or a major college, next year," said former Vols offensive lineman Ramon Foster this week on 104.5 The Zone. "Because I'll be honest with you, I thought last year this defense for the Vols carried the team more than we like to give it credit for."

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Heupel doesn't necessarily need to have an extensive list of potential candidates to replace Banks in the event that the fourth-year Vols defensive coordinator leaves for a head coaching job. But Heupel needs to at least have a plan in place for how he plans to approach a potential search for a new defensive coordinator. 

Banks is essentially the head coach of the defense. If he leaves, he'll likely take an assistant or two with him. Heupel needs to have a plan for either revamping the coaching staff on that side of the ball or simply looking for a new defensive coordinator that can mesh with the assistants that remain in Knoxville after the 2024 season (that would be the preferable option….Tennessee doesn't need to find a new defensive identity, plus the Vols can't afford to lose defensive line coach Rodney Garner, who is one of the best in the business). 

There's no substitute for being prepared. And Heupel needs to be prepared to make an important hire after the 2024 season. 

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