KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – With two more weeks of strength and conditioning leading up to the start of spring practice, Tennessee head football coach Josh Heupel formally introduced his new defensive staff on Monday afternoon.
The staff includes defensive coordinator Tim Banks, outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler, defensive line coach Rodney Garner, linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary and secondary coach Willie Martinez.
The defensive group owns a combined 127 years of collegiate coaching experience, 23 conference championships and multiple national titles. Four of the five have previous coordinator experience, and four own previous SEC coaching experience. Garner enters his 32nd year in the SEC, while the 2021 season will be Martinez’s 15th in the league. Both return to Tennessee after previous successful stints.
“They’ve hit the ground running here this past week and a half with our players and are already getting some things implemented in getting ourselves prepared for spring ball,” Heupel said. “I’m excited about this group of men and who they are, and how they’re going to impact our players in a positive way off the field. They are a group of high energy men that have a ton of experience.”
The Volunteers open a five-week stretch of spring practices on March 23. Heupel’s first spring culminates with the Chevrolet Orange & White Game on April 24.
Season tickets for the 100th year of Neyland Stadium and the start of the Heupel era are on sale now at AllVols.com. Season tickets start as low as $300, with the Vol Pass and payment plan options offered. Fans can experience the Neyland Stadium 3D map to select tickets based on preference. Fans with questions related to seats, views and options can utilize the live “CHAT” feature on AllVols.com.
Head Coach Josh Heupel
Opening Statement …
“Good morning, everybody. I hope everybody is doing great. I want to start by just saying congratulations to Coach (Rick) Barnes and the basketball team yesterday. Great come-from-behind victory and wish them well as they get ready for tournament play this week here.
“I’m excited to be able to introduce our defensive staff – a group of men that I’m really excited about. They’ve hit the ground running here this past week and a half with our players and are already getting some things implemented in getting ourselves prepared for spring ball. I’m excited about this group of men and who they are, and how they’re going to impact our players in a positive way off the field. A group of high energy men that have a ton of experience. Four out of the five have coordinator experience. Four out of the five have SEC ties and have been inside of this league before. They are a group of elite recruiters that can help us recruit the biggest and the best here to Knoxville, Tennessee.
“Coach (Tim) Banks was important to me on the defensive side of the ball. I’ve got somebody that had a clear vision and had some experience in what they were doing on the defensive side of the football. I believe that our philosophies pair together extremely well. A guy that’s had a coordinator title during the last 14 years of his coaching career. You look at the last five years of what he’s been a part of at Penn State. You just look at their ability to create zero and negative plays. I think they’re top five or top 10 in pretty much every one of those categories over the last five years. It’s going to give us the ability to be multiple in what we do, be aggressive in nature, be a tremendous teacher, and I think will be a perfect fit for what we’re doing here in Knoxville, Tennessee. He’s done a great job at developing guys at all three levels as a coordinator, talking about defensive line, linebackers and the secondary position. He’ll work with us primarily on the back end with our secondary there, but I’m really excited about him.
“Our outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler, a guy that I’ve known dating back to our time together at Oklahoma. You just look at his track record of where he’s been and the success that they’ve had. Another guy that’s had coordinator experience on the defensive coordinator position, but also has done it on the special teams side coming from North Texas. But, he has been inside of this league and handled special teams at Georgia when he was there with Coach (Mark) Richt as well and brings a tremendous amount of knowledge to the special teams side of it here in our program.
“Another guy that has got a tremendous amount of energy and is an elite recruiter, and I’m excited about having him and his family here is linebackers Coach Brian Jean-Mary. I’m just excited about who he is, having competed against him and schematically what he did and the problems that he caused as a coordinator. He will coach our linebackers coming from Michigan. He’s known as an elite recruiter everywhere that he’s been. Great developer of guys at that second level and at the linebacker position. You look at the amount of guys that he’s been able to recruit and then develop and have an opportunity to go play in the NFL. He’s a perfect fit for us at that position.
“Rodney Garner, our defensive line coach, has coached 30-plus years inside of the SEC. This is his second go-around here at Tennessee. I think he’s got over 10 first round draft picks at the defensive line position. He’s known and is a great recruiter just because he’s genuine. He is who he is and does a great job of developing relationships. I’ve seen that in the short amount of time that he’s been here. His ability to impact our players in a positive way with a clear set of standards and expectations and getting those guys to really buy in – he’s elite as far as being a teacher at defensive line play. His ability to teach those guys overall scheme, but really the fundamentals and technique at that position will allow us to recruit the best.
“The last guy I want to talk about is Coach Willie Martinez. We’ve been together at our previous stop at Oklahoma and also where I got to know him and his family over the last three years at UCF. He’s been inside of this league for over 15 years, both as a positions coach and 10 years as a coordinator as well. He brings a tremendous amount of wealth and knowledge and is a great recruiter. He’s a great human being with a great family and is going to provide a lot of insight on that side of it. He’s a great teacher of the game, and you just look at who he is and what he’s been able to do everywhere he’s been with NFL players at every stop. He’s known as one of the elite coaches in the secondary position.
“They’re a group of guys that collectively have experience, have a wealth of knowledge, invest in their players, are going to be great recruiters for us, and I’m excited about having these guys here on the defensive side of the football.”
On importance of SEC experience when searching for coaching staff hires …
“You know, for us as a staff and as you assemble your 10 assistants and just collectively the balance that you want to have, having some ties inside of this conference, knowing how it operates and knowing the landscape of it was important for me. When you’re bringing together a group of guys, some familiarity with who they are individually and some connections there, make the transition into that meeting room. The trust factor is really important, and I think we accomplished that as well. I think our players see how in-sync those guys are and just how they operate and communicate and as they put in their scheme as well. So, you put all those factors together, and I think that’s a big part of it. And then, their SEC experience is important too just in that they have some ties in the recruiting world here to our footprint as well.”
On where priorities have been over the last month, thoughts on where the team is going into spring practice …
“I feel like we’re in a good spot heading into spring ball. We basically have two weeks left with some of the recruiting landscapes as far as pushing back our ability to be on the road recruiting. We pushed back the start of spring ball one week giving our guys, in particular the defensive side of the football, another week to get their feet on the ground. These guys we’re announcing today, they’ve been here for a week and really probably closer to two weeks that that staff has been here with us. I think we’re in a really good spot. You look at what they’ve done inside of our strength and conditioning program. I think we’ll be prepared in having made some gains, but be prepared to go compete during the course of spring ball as well, so I like where we’re at.”
On defensive scheme being solely defensive coordinator Tim Banks‘ scheme or a combination with input from defensive assistants …
“It will be a combination of some things that Coach (Tim) Banks has done throughout his tenure, not just what he’s done at Penn State. I think for us and where our roster is at, I think it’s important that you have the ability to be flexible and to put your kids in a position of success. I think you have to be multiple in today’s game. I think that’s a part of creating zero and negative plays, getting offenses off schedule, and that’s both in your front and what you’re seeing in the back end as well.”
On trying to suit scheme to the personnel on staff …
“For sure. I think you have to do that in all three phases. I think it’s important that you find personnel that can fit into your overall strategy of what you want to do, but you’ve got to look at what your personnel can do at a really high level and put them in a position of being successful.”
On if there were considerations of keeping Kevin Steele on staff as an assistant coach, why decisions were made to not keep him on staff …
“Kevin (Steele) is a great coach that’s been inside of this league for a long time and obviously has some ties to Tennessee as well. I wish him nothing but the best as he moves on in his coaching career in the future. I ultimately felt like this was the right collection of talent here to lead our players and help lead this football program.”
On the level of buy-in that’s been seen from players that are still with the program …
“At the end of the day, it’s always about the players that you have. I don’t care if that’s players that transitioned out of your program or who you don’t get in recruiting. It’s always about who is here. The level of buy-in has been phenomenal from our players. The accountability factor, those guys wanted it, they bought into it and they’re trusting the process of getting ourselves prepared to go compete during spring ball. We call this our first quarter of the offseason here with the strength and conditioning side of it. We’re starting to get some installs as far as what we’re doing in all three phases of the game as well, but the guys have been great. Great energy, great buy-in, excited about what we’re doing, great chemistry I think in the locker room as well. Those are all things we’re going to have to continue to do to develop here as we move through this offseason process.”
On when and where the coaching staff will target in the transfer portal, if there is already a feel for which positions help will be needed at …
“As our coaching staff has come in here, you watch cut ups of each individual player, trying to give yourself a baseline of who they are, what their skillset is and potentially some subtle tweaks to what position they might be playing and our positions that you’re going to put them in. But I think you find out a whole lot more. I think it’s important inside of your program every day to not judge them for who they were – that’s on the field or off the field. Judge them for who they are today. You have got to give these players an opportunity to grow inside of your strength and conditioning program. You know, get some installs, get their feet on the grass and have an opportunity to work and coach with them and you’ll find a whole lot more out as you go through spring ball.”
On elaboration of how Tim Banks‘ philosophy and what he wants to do on defense aligns with his goals …
“I think it’s really important. You know, in my introductory press conference, it was important to me that we want to be aggressive in nature in who we are and how we play a football game. You’ve got to let your players cut loose and go play on game day but that’s also, philosophically, how you’re going to align and put your kids in a position of success. I think it’s important that we are multiple on that side of the football. I think that’s part of causing issues for who you’re facing on the offensive side of the football. You have to be a great teacher of that if you’re going to be multiple. You’ve got to be a great teacher and be able to teach it in a way where there’s a lot of things going on, but your kids have some rules that give them something to grab onto so that they can adjust quickly. I think you just look at (Banks’) track record of being aggressive, creating zero and negative plays, being multiple – those are all things that are important to me in hiring a defensive coordinator.”
Defensive Coordinator Tim Banks
On which aspects of the defensive backs he will be working with, and if he has a preference on which ones he will be working with …
“To be honest, I’ll be working with both. I’ve coached the backend for a long time, and obviously played the position. So, obviously having Willie Martinez with us gives me a lot of flexibility. If I’m training the corners, I feel very comfortable that he can train the safeties and we’ll be on the same page. Anytime you’re dealing with the backend, you want to make sure those guys understand and basically hear one message. We can’t have anything lost in translation. So, it’s as much as we can coach the backend and not necessarily the safeties and the corners, but coaching the DB’s, it makes it that much smoother in terms of everything that we want to get done.”
On the process of getting to know his personnel before spring …
“Anytime you are trying to build something, you got to know what parts you have. So right now, we are evaluating everything these guys obviously did last season. We’ve been fortunate enough to be able to get around these guys to see them work a little bit in the weight room and some different movement activities on the field. So, at that point, we are just evaluating and trying to figure out what they do, how they move, and obviously will center the package around it. Right now, that’s what we’re doing and we’re just gathering as much information as we can to make sure when it’s time for the lights to come on that we can put these guys in the best possible position to be successful.”
On his assessment of the level of talent on the defense, and if he sees himself using a four-man front…
“Again, I think we are still in the getting to know each other phase. So, we watched the tape and obviously they are some talented men out there or else they wouldn’t be at a place like Tennessee, but to what degree and they can do moving forward we got to continue to evaluate it. I feel good, and I feel like we’ll have a chance to look these guys in the eye and have a strong plan to get them in the best position to be successful. As far as the 4-3 or 3-4 and all those types of things, once again, what do we have to work with? As we continue to go through spring, we’ll evaluate it and make some decisions moving forward that obviously puts the players in the best light which in turn puts our defense in the best light. But right now, we’re trying to continue to evaluate the talent level and see what these guys can do and do well.”
On his first impressions on the University of Tennessee, the environment and players…
“It’s just a great place. Obviously, to me the thing I am enjoying so far is it still has that small college town feel, but it has some city amenities. I think we’ll be able to attract some of the best student-athletes around the country because whether we are recruiting in a small town or if you’re going to get a city kid, I don’t think it’ll matter. I think because Knoxville has a bit for everyone and when you start to combine it with playing in a conference like the SEC and having a chance to get a great education here, I just feel like we have a product that we’ll be able to sell and sell around the country. So, it’s been awesome, and I’m really enjoying the town the feel, but obviously the city amenities is something that I think will bode well for the future for all the young men we are looking for.”
On what made Tennessee the job for him…
“It’s just like with any other organization, it always starts at the top with Coach Heupel. Obviously, the success he’s had at UCF and as an offensive coordinator I think speaks for itself. Having a chance to talk to some of my guys that have a relationship with him and everything I heard about him being a great man, obviously a great coach, but a great man was something that intrigued me. When you start to talk about Tennessee and the success they’ve had – a lot of programs are talking about what they want to do and the reality of it is, Tennessee has done it. Obviously, we know there’s work to be done to get back to where we want to go but at the end of the day, having a chance to work with great people and having a chance to do it together was just an opportunity I feel that I couldn’t pass up on.”
Defensive Line Coach Rodney Garner
On if he or Knoxville have changed more since his previous stint at Tennessee…
“I think we’ve both changed. It’s good to be back on Rocky Top. It’s exciting for me and my family. It’s something that we’ve talked about. It’s sort of like life is coming full circle, being able to come back here. Obviously, we were here in the late 90s and have the opportunity to be able to get Tennessee back to the elite status that we feel like it belongs at. We’re trying to play a role and be able to contribute to that.”
On his first impressions of the defensive players that he is inheriting at Tennessee…
“Obviously, we watched film to see guys play, see how they strike blocks and how stout they were and different things. You try to not go into it with a preconceived idea. It’s like I told them the other day during a workout, ‘We’re going to have to move guys around and put them in different positions to see how they fit schematically so we can put the best combination of guys out there on the field.’ I took them back to the last place I was at in 2013. I probably had 10 different starting lineups. Trying to find the right matchups and getting guys to play with the right chemistry so we could be successful defensively. Right now, we’re just trying to find out where guys fit the best, execute and play at a championship level.”
On what he looks for in a defensive lineman…
“You start with measurables. That’s a given. Then, we’re looking for a skillset. Do they check the boxes as far as initial quickness, lateral movement, short area quickness, change of direction, ankle flexion, knee bend, hip explosion and being able to create vertical power? Schematically, we’re an attack and react front versus sitting on the line and reading. You look at the character and the makeup of the young men. What type of character do they have? One of the things that’s the hardest to gauge is what kind of competitiveness and what kind of heart they have? As you go through the recruiting process and get to know them, their families and their make-up, hopefully that will be more revealing.”
On how important it is for him to develop players as men off the field, in addition to development on the field…
“I look at this as my ministry. I want to pour into these young men. That’s the thing that we sell these families. They’re going to give me a young man, and I want to give them a man back. We have a holistic approach. Obviously, they all want to play at the next level. If you ask them man for man, that’s what you hear. I want them to be good students and get a degree. I want them to be good men off the field. I want them to be good husbands, good fathers and good citizens. We’re looking at that. Hopefully, we can develop them spiritually, socially and athletically. I feel like if we can encompass those other areas, then they’re going to be good football players. Hopefully, we’re targeting the guys who have the skillset and the talent to be able to play at a high level. If we’re doing our job as far as developing them in other areas, then they should be very coachable and we should be able to help them achieve their athletic goals along the process.”
Outside Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator Mike Ekeler
On why SEC experience is viewed as so important in this league, given previous roles at the SEC level …
“It’s a whole different deal. I’ve coached at all Power Five conferences, been in the SEC a total of five years with three at LSU and two at Georgia. To have that experience, it’s just different. It’s different than the Big 12, it’s different than the ACC. It’s the deep end of the pool.”
On what he wants the special teams units to look like and what he feels like he has with the skill position players he’s inherited …
“One thing that we’ll do is, we’ll play our tails off and we’re going to be all about technique, we’re going to play hard and we’re going to play clean. Just having watched every clip last year of our special teams, I really feel like they really have a good foundation and good culture from the special teams standpoint. Guys played hard, and I think we’ve got some really good skill players, and I’m excited to get out there in spring practice and work with them.”
On the talent at outside linebacker perspective and the focus heading into spring practice …
“Well, we’ve seen them on the field only one time having just gotten here last week and watching them on film last year, I’m excited. I think we’ve got a lot of talent there, got some speed. I’m just excited to get out there in spring practice, work with them and see these guys develop.”
On recalling the first game coaching in Neyland Stadium, the difference between Neyland and the other stadiums he’s coached in …
“I just remember walking in there and first of all, you walk in that stadium and it’s absolutely beautiful. I mean it’s incredible. It’s all symmetrical and it’s probably one of the most breathtaking structures you’ve been in. And then, you toss in 103,000 people and they start singing Rocky Top and it’s an electric environment. I remember I was up in the press box at the time and the thing started shaking and swaying and it was pretty awesome. So, ever since that, I think we ended up coming out on top where I was in overtime. It was an unbelievable battle, and I just had a great experience.”
On why he wanted to move the direction of his career from the defensive side of the ball to special teams, what he thinks makes a good special teams coach …
“Well, going back, when they added the 10th coach, that’s really when I decided to go the special teams route because I had always gone linebackers, defensive coordinator and so forth. And I’ve always loved special teams but at that point, a lot of coaches hadn’t put the emphasis on them, and I saw it as an opportunity. That’s kind of how I made my name as a player, and I love that aspect of it. You get to coach every single player on the team, and you get to teach them every what I call transferable skill. So, a kickoff for example is no different. We’ll pull a clip of the receiver stemming a corner and stepping on his toes, running a post-cut. Guys, it’s all you’re doing. It’s the same thing. We’ll pull a clip of a linebacker setting up a block and looking him in the eyes and sticking him and it’s all about space. It’s all about where’s the ball? Where’s the block? How much space do I have? Teaching them relationships. To sum it up, you’re teaching the entire team all the fundamentals of the ball, so that’s what I really enjoy. Working with every player and getting out there and the other thing that’s fun about it, is you got one shot at this. It’s not like offense and it’s not like defense where you have three opportunities. You’ve got one shot, so your chili better be hot. You better be ready to rock and roll, and I enjoy that because I wake up about 3 a.m. every day and I don’t need a cup of coffee. I’m ready to go.”
On recruiting tactics, what it’s like to be on the road talking to potential recruits …
“First of all just in recruiting, it’s about connecting with these kids. As a coach, once you connect with them and once they understand and they get here, and former players like a Will Compton, I told Will this and I’ve told every player this, that ‘Guys, it’s my job as a coach to earn your respect. So, let me be clear about that. If I can’t make you the best linebacker, in Will’s case, in the country, then I’m worthless to you. That’s my job.’ I said, ‘that’s my job to earn your trust’ and that happens over time. It’s not going to happen overnight. It’s going to happen in the fourth quarter when you know what hits the fan and we’re down against Auburn and what am I going to do? Am I going to point a finger or am I going to point a thumb? You know, are we in this together or are we really in it together? So, that takes time and the third thing once you figure out I actually care about you and I love you, now we got something. In the recruiting process, it’s really conveying that to the recruits and getting in front of them and really just getting to know them on a personal level, getting to know their families and know who they are and what they’re about.”
Linebackers Coach Brian Jean-Mary
On what he has seen from the linebackers …
“They’ve been great, the guys have been attentive and very eager to learn Coach (Tim) Banks new system. They’ve come in with a bounce in their step with some of the things Coach (Josh) Heupel has installed so far for the program. So, it’s been great every day we have got a chance to get together. Those guys have been sponges getting to the point where they are a lot more comfortable asking questions and obviously, they wanted to get a chance to know me as an individual coach and learn Coach Banks system as far as defense. But everything has been positive so far and I have no complaints.”
On what made this the time to come to Tennessee and work with the new staff and what he remembers on his games against UCF when he was at USF as a defensive coordinator…
“First off, obviously Coach (Charlie) Strong was a big mentor for me. He gave me my first opportunity, along with Coach Holtz, to actually work in this conference. So, I was a graduate assistant with those guys back in the early 2000s. But I felt like the time was right, obviously I have history with Coach Heupel and I respect everything he’s done, as far as not just an offensive guy and as a coordinator but also what he did as a head coach down in Central Florida. He’s got the right mix of explosive offense, but also did a great job as a full team to win here in this conference. So, it was an enticing and an offer too good to turn down. Like I said, just from the experiences at UCF, a very explosive and aggressive team and a team that’s going to take their shots obviously as far as getting down field, but a team that can defend from sideline to sideline that is going to be equally as explosive with the pass game as they were with the run game and probably one of the more difficult teams to prepare for throughout my whole career. So, to be on a team with him, it was too enticing, and I know they are going to put some points on the board and give us a chance to win a lot of games.”
On how he would describe the roles and responsibilities of middle linebackers in this defense…
“With any defense and I know there is different defenses, fronts, and responsibilities with every defense you have, but the middle linebackers are always going to be the captain of the defense and through history that is proven. So, that guy is going to have to be the captain, he’s going to have to be the guy that communicates with the front four guys, and the defensive line and outside linebackers and communicate with the secondary. So, there is a leadership role that comes with that position and he’s going to be the captain of the defense, whether it’s obviously not necessarily the captain of the team or not, he’s got to take a leadership role and be one the guys that the rest of the defense looks to right the ship on the field without the coaches being there with him.”
On how important spring practice is getting a continuity on the practice field and when they are as a defensive staff …
“Spring practice is one of the most important parts as far as building a team. As you saw last year with teams not getting a lot of spring practice because of the COVID-19 pandemic, you saw how slow some teams started and guys were probably having to figure each other out with coaches and players because they didn’t have the spring practice. So, I think it’s very important and as far as the staff and the players, it is our first introduction to football, 11-on-11 with us putting an actual game plan in and watching these guys run around and that’s the closest thing we’ll get to a game. So, it’s going to be very important and like I said it’s a process because they’re getting to know us and we’re getting to know them. We know their strengths and weaknesses. We’ll know them a lot better once we get out of spring practice. But I think with some of the veteran guys we have on staff here, they’ve been in a lot of different systems and have had the opportunity to obviously coach under a bunch of different coaches. So, it’s been a seamless transition with those guys. Coach Banks has done a great job of bringing in his package and allowing guys to fit with how they see things to that package and it’s been good. Obviously, we want to see how that works going into spring practice, but everything has been great so far.”
Secondary Coach Willie Martinez
On what is different about his coaching style now after 20-plus years of experience…
“It’s going to be a very popular answer—the offenses. The speed of the game has changed. The tempo of the game has changed. Obviously in this league there is a tremendous amount of great athletic players at each position. The talent is great, but it’s the speed. Being able to defend the entire field, sideline to sideline. You’ve got to play with the same personnel on the field. You used to be able to change that personnel grouping because you had time. The strategies have changed, and obviously the rules have changed.”
On the defensive backs at Tennessee…
“I’ve been excited. There are some guys in the room that I was a part of recruiting, and that’s kind of neat to see and watch them through the years here and develop to be the people they’ve become and the people they are. I think it’s a locked-in group. It’s a group that really wants to get better each and every day. It’s really been an awesome experience for me and Coach Banks obviously on the back end. We’ve got some new leadership—guys that know how to lead, guys that have the respect of their teammates. And you need that in the back end, especially at the last line of defense.”
On how having past experience at Tennessee is an advantage in recruiting and coaching…
“This is a tremendous place. The first day that I came here back in 2013—it’s the same excitement that I had when I came back. It’s a place that has so much tradition, so much success, and a passionate fan base that wants nothing but success. When I was recruiting here in the past, you walk around and wear that Power T—it doesn’t matter what state—you know exactly what school it is. There’s never been a recruit that I’ve been a part of that when we brought him here, he didn’t really enjoy himself. That’s what I remember and what I feel like now, and there’s so many great players that have played here. It’s not just football. We’re talking about all sports.”
On how to balance the defense without being too simplistic…
“From a fundamental standpoint, just embrace the process. It starts with the beginning of a play. You can handle looking over to the sideline to get a down-distance situation. Then you can actually look at our personnel calls or what they have in the game. That’s something that doesn’t need anything but just looking. Once you do that, being able to process what they have shown formation wise, you’ve practiced it. You’re going against an offense that’s going really fast. It’s a positive. Sometimes it looks like it’s unreal but trust us. In the process, if you embrace it, it may look not realistic how fast they’re going in practice, but if you’re able to process it and focus on your job—what is your job? Define it. What’s the call that we give you? As we put in the defensive calls, you’ve got to know the weaknesses and strengths of that defense comparable to what they might do.”
On the process of getting hired after hearing that Coach Heupel had gotten the job…
“When Coach Heupel took the job, we really didn’t know what was going to happen. I was at a great place where we won a lot of games. I had an opportunity to come back to a special place like Tennessee and work for Coach Heupel, who I think is a great leader, and then I got a chance to possibly stay. I’m excited to be here, and I’m looking forward to my round two here at Rocky Top.”
-UT Athletics
