Vols Introduce New Defensive Coordinator Jim Knowles

(utsports.com) – Jim Knowles takes the reins of the Tennessee football defense in 2026, and he will do it with several familiar faces by his side. Knowles was one of four new defensive assistant coaches who met with the media on Thursday afternoon, one month before the Volunteers begin spring practice.

Co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach Anthony Poindexter and LEOs coach Andrew Jackson worked alongside Knowles at Penn State last season. Cornerbacks coach Derek Jones, the former assistant at Virginia Tech, coached on Knowles’ staff at Duke from 2010-17. In addition, four former Penn State defensive players transferred to Tennessee to start the semester.

“We can go faster than other situations that I’ve been in, because of the fact that we have a lot of coaches who have worked with me before,” Knowles said. “That’s a huge advantage. Definitely faster than other places. And also, we have a few players — which is really kind of crazy in this day and age — that you have a few players that have been in this system, really at all levels of the defense. You know, (Xavier Gilliam, Amare Campbell, Dejuan Lane, Chaz Coleman), all levels.

Knowles also retained veteran assistant coaches Rodney Garner (defensive line) and William Inge (linebackers). Collectively, the entire new defensive staff owns 116 years of Power Four experience with six College Football Playoff appearances.

Knowles, who was named defensive coordinator on Dec. 11, has orchestrated four top 15 total defenses nationally over the last six seasons with three of those units finishing in the top four. He spoke in detail about the process of joining Heupel’s staff.

“Our head coach is as genuine and as real as anybody I have been around, in terms of wanting the defense to be successful,” he said. “He is the farthest thing from a ‘me’ guy, from an ego guy. He’s extremely down-to-earth, communicates well. I knew that from the first time that I flew in here, and he picked me up himself and took me to his house, which I had 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.”

Since his hiring, the Vols have welcomed 20 new transfers, including 12 on the defensive side, while 24 freshmen enrolled in January. The group is gearing up for the start of spring practice, which begins on March 16.