Update: Tennessee made this official tonight. Tim Banks signed a three-year contract with the Vols, receiving $1.3 million in 2021, then $1.4 million the next year and $1.5 million the final year, according to the Knoxville News.
Welcome to Rocky Top, Coach Banks! #GBO
🔗: https://t.co/ZASWUpWexh pic.twitter.com/MOfbnQjJ1I
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) February 16, 2021
#WeAre pic.twitter.com/S0PI6SEa4F
— James Franklin (@coachjfranklin) February 16, 2021
Penn State safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator Tim Banks is leaving to become defensive coordinator at Tennessee, according to a report from college football insider Pete Thamel.
Sources: Tennessee is finalizing a deal to hire Penn State co-defensive coordinator Tim Banks as the school’s new DC. Banks has extensive DC experience, including at Illinois, Cincinnati and Central Michigan.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 15, 2021
Banks has a wealth of experience, so getting this kind of job opportunity is not a surprise.
He is expected to be paid in the neighborhood of $1.2 to $1.5 million a year by Tennessee, according to Football Scoop.
This is a big loss for the staff, though, as Banks not only has extensive experience, he’s also an outstanding recruiter. This story shows how the Detroit native built a PSU pipeline into Michigan.
Banks is the third assistant coach to leave the PSU program this offseason. James Franklin fired offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca in favor of Mike Yurcich, and tight ends coach Tyler Bowen left for a job with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was replaced by Ty Howle.
Tennessee’s new coach is Josh Heupel, who was hired from UCF to replace Jeremy Pruitt, who was fired.
This is a look at Banks’ coaching career, from his PSU bio page, and as you can see, he’s been a defensive coordinator at both Illinois and Central Michigan.
Coaching Career
2016-present – Penn State (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties)
2012-15 – Illinois (Defensive coordinator/Secondary)
2010-11 – Cincinnati (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
2007-09 – Central Michigan (Defensive Coordinator)
2006 – Maryland (Defensive Backs)
2003-05 – Maryland (Inside Linebackers)
2002 – Memphis (Defensive Backs)
2001 – Memphis (Outside Linebackers)
2000 – Bowling Green (Defensive Backs)
1999 – Bowling Green (Running Backs)
1997-98 – Ferris State (Defensive Backs)
1996 – Bowling Green (Graduate Assistant)
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