Is Tim Banks going to be fired as defensive coordinator for Tennessee football? This is the status of his contract.

As his contract is about to expire, defensive coordinator Tim Banks, who was once used as a scapegoat for Tennessee’s inadequacies, is now sought after by other College Football Playoff hopefuls.

In 2024, he oversaw the Vols defense that gave up just 16.1 points per game, the fewest since the 1998 national championship squad. However, he does not have a contract until 2025.

At the beginning of coach Josh Heupel’s tenure, Banks’ defense was a weakness. However, it played a significant role in the Vols’ 2024 berth in the first 12-team playoffs. Additionally, Banks is a finalist for the Broyles Award, which is presented to college football’s best assistant each year.

The intriguing background to Banks’ future with the Vols is that turnaround.

Banks was left a lame duck coordinator when his defense led the way to the playoffs because UT did not extend his contract last offseason. However, a source with firsthand knowledge of the negotiations told Knox News that UT extended his contract towards the end of the 2024 season. Since the negotiations were not disclosed to the public, the source was allowed to remain anonymous.

Was it too late for Tennessee to make a bid to keep Banks?

Here are Banks’ current status with the Vols and the reasons he’s a popular candidate for available positions.

Tim Banks’ salary ranking and contract status Tennessee has just a few weeks to convince Banks to sign a new contract before his current one expires on January 31. Willie Martinez, the defensive secondary coach, and Mike Ekeler, the outside linebacker coach and coordinator of special teams, will also have their contracts expire.

Banks’ 2024 salary of $1.5 million placed him 10th in the SEC and 21st overall among assistant coaches.

Four defensive coordinators topped that national compensation ranking: Pete Golding of Ole Miss ($2.15 million), Jim Knowles of Ohio State ($2.2 million), Wink Martindale of Michigan ($2.3 million), and Blake Baker of LSU ($2.5 million).

Banks was handed a three-year contract through the 2023 season when he was hired as Josh Heupel’s defensive coordinator in 2021. He received a planned rise and a one-year extension until the 2024 season following the 2021 season. In 2023, he was paid $1.5 million, up from $1.4 million in 2022.

However, because Banks has made the Vols defense one of the best in the SEC, his contract has remained unaltered for the last three years.

Tim Banks is associated with positions at ACC colleges.
According to reports, Miami expressed interest in hiring Banks to take over as defensive coordinator. After the Hurricanes’ late-season defensive shortcomings cost them a chance to qualify for the CFP, Lance Guidry was fired.

Tennessee’s inclusion in the CFP was made possible in large part by Banks’ defense. Nonetheless, it seems unlikely that Banks will depart for Miami.

Following Wes Goodwin’s dismissal on Monday, Banks has also been mentioned as a possible possibility at Clemson.

Using an ACC title, Clemson discovered a backdoor into the CFP. However, with a rush defense ranking No. 85, the Tigers gave up 160.6 yards per game, their lowest total since 2011. Additionally, they lost to Texas in the CFP first round, giving up 292 yards of rushing.

The Vols allowed 103.9 yards per game this season, which put them in 10th place in the rushing defense rankings under Banks. For the last three seasons, their running defense has placed them among the top four in the SEC.

This is the 2024 Tennessee defense’s level of excellence.
As the offense faltered and the defense gained more clout in the 2024 campaign, Banks’ worth increased.

The Vols ranked eighth in scoring defense, giving up 16.1 points per game. While winning a national championship in 1998, the UT defense gave up 14.5 points per game.

Additionally, Banks’ 2024 team ranked seventh in total defense, giving up 293.2 yards per game. In addition, it placed among the top 10 in tackles-for-loss, third-down defense, fourth-down defense, and rushing defense.

Considering that Banks has consistently said that he doesn’t obsess over statistics, those are outstanding numbers.

Why the 2025 season depends on Tim Banks
Granted, Banks’ defense gave up a combined 73 points in defeats to Georgia and Ohio State. As a result, the Vols were eliminated from the SEC championship game and their CFP run was terminated.

But UT wouldn’t have found itself in those situations if it weren’t for Banks’ defense.

Additionally, Banks’ humble ego makes him popular with both coaches and players. He minimizes his own contributions and frequently attributes achievement to others.

Additionally, managing a Heupel attack as the defensive coordinator is not simple. Particularly when it comes to time of possession, UT’s quick-paced offense places a significant strain on its defense. However, Banks has consistently welcomed that collaboration.

Banks’ defense had to throw low-scoring games to win in 2024 because the Vols had lengthy scoring lulls. In ten games, including nine victories, UT kept opponents to fewer than 20 points.

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Additionally, UT’s offense is more uncertain than its defense in 2025, so Banks’ comeback may be crucial to the Vols’ continued postseason prospects.