KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tim Banks, who helped guide top 25 units as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Penn State the past five seasons, has been named Tennessee’s new defensive coordinator, head coach Josh Heupel announced on Monday evening.

“Tim brings great energy, passion and experience to the Tennessee football family,” Heupel said. “His defenses are known for their aggressive style, as well as their multiple coverages and fronts. He’s coached in big games and has a proven track record of success on the field and in recruiting. I know our student-athletes are going to enjoy playing for him. We are fortunate to have someone with Tim’s experience and caliber leading our defense.”

Banks owns 14 years of FBS defensive coordinator experience, including four seasons at Illinois (2012-15), two years at Cincinnati (2010-11) and three seasons at Central Michigan (2007-09). During his successful five-year run at Penn State, the Nittany Lions ranked in the top 25 nationally in fewest yards per play allowed all five years and ranked in the top 25 in scoring defense three times and tackles for loss per game three times. He also proved to be an outstanding recruiter during his time.

Under Banks’ watch from 2016-20, Penn State was among the best nationally in multiple defensive categories – fifth in sacks (221), sixth in fewest passing touchdowns allowed (70), ninth in yards per play allowed (4.8), ninth in forced fumbles (95), 10th in fewest rushing yards per attempt (4.4), 14th in scoring defense (21.2), 13th in rushing defense (132.7), 17th in total defense (344.6) and 25th in pass defense (211.9).

Banks mentored players on the path to the NFL Draft as Penn State produced 10 defensive selections during his time, a figure that ranked 11th nationally and third in the Big Ten during that span.

The Nittany Lions owned a 46-16 record and posted three 11-win campaigns with three New Year’s Six games, including the 2017 Rose Bowl after claiming the Big Ten Championship. Penn State tallied a 33-13 mark in conference play during Banks’ time, and the Nittany Lions were second in the Big Ten in overall winning percentage (74.19).

Banks’ 2019 Penn State defensive unit shined, leading the nation in forced fumbles (22), while ranking fifth in the FBS in rushing defense (95.0), eighth in scoring defense (16.0) and third in fewest touchdown passes allowed (10). The Nittany Lions’ scoring defense was their best since 2009 as safeties Lamont Wade and Garrett Taylor garnered All-Big Ten honorable mention honors. Banks played a key role on a squad that posted an 11-2 record and beat No. 17 Memphis in the Cotton Bowl.

Banks’ 2018 defense that finished eighth nationally in team passing efficiency (106.10) and 15th in passing yards allowed (181.5) produced All-Big Ten safeties Taylor and Nick Scott. An opportunistic defense that thrived on takeaways, Penn State recorded 13 interceptions and held three opponents to 60 yards or less through the air, representing the first time that feat occurred in single-season school annals since 1976.

Banks’ second season was highlighted by the Nittany Lions’ second-straight New Year’s Six bowl appearance as Penn State topped No. 12 Washington in the Fiesta Bowl. That fall, Banks’ defense finished in the top 25 nationally in seven different categories — scoring defense (7th; 16.5), sacks (7th; 3.23), rushing defense (14th; 118.0), total defense (17th; 329.5), team passing efficiency defense (21st; 114.88), turnovers gained (23rd; 25) and tackles for loss (25th; 7.2).

Both of Banks’ starting safeties during the 2017 seasons were invited to the 2018 NFL Combine, including All-Big Ten first-team selection Marcus Allen and All-Big Ten honorable mention Troy Apke.

Banks’ debut year at Penn State saw the Nittany Lions claim the Big Ten Championship with memorable wins over No. 2 Ohio State (24-21) and No. 6 Wisconsin (38-31) en route to Pasadena that fall. His defense had a strength in forcing negative plays as it ranked seventh nationally in tackle for loss per game (8.1) and 19th in sacks per contest (2.86). Under Banks’ tutelage, Allen garnered 2016 All-Big Ten third-team honors as a junior after leading the team with 110 tackles, including six for loss and two fumble recoveries.

Prior to Penn State, Banks served as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Illinois from 2012-15. In his final season, the Fighting Illini ranked 15th in the FBS in passing defense (184.4) and 21st in team passing efficiency defense (112.24). Illinois reached the 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl. Meanwhile, three of his players were selected in the 2013 NFL Draft – defensive tackle Akeem Spence (fourth round), defensive back Terry Hawthorne (fifth round) and defensive end Michael Buchanan (seventh round).

Prior to his time in Champaign, Banks spent the 2010 and 2011 seasons as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Cincinnati, helping the Bearcats to the 2011 Big East co-championship. In 2011, the Bearcats finished sixth in the FBS in rushing defense (95.31), seventh in turnover margin (+12) and second in sacks (46, 3.54).

Banks coached 2011 Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year and 2012 NFL Draft second-round pick Derek Wolfe, as well as first-team All-Big East selections Drew Frey and JK Schaefer. For his efforts, Banks was nominated for the 2011 Broyles Award, presented annually to college football’s top assistant coach.

Additionally, Banks spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator at his alma mater, Central Michigan from 2007-09, helping the Chippewas win two Mid-American Conference titles (2007, ’09) and reach three bowls.

Prior to that, Banks was at Maryland for four seasons, serving as the inside linebackers coach from 2003-05 and the defensive backs coach in 2006. Under Banks’ guidance, linebacker D’Qwell Jackson was a two-time All-ACC first team selection (2004-05), the 2005 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and a 2005 Bednarik Award finalist.

Banks also made coaching stops at Memphis as the defensive backs coach (2002) and outside linebackers coach (2001), Bowling Green as the defensive backs coach (2000) and running backs coach (1999), Ferris State as the defensive backs coach (1997-98) and Bowling Green as a graduate assistant (1996).

A native of Detroit, Banks was a four-year letterwinner at Central Michigan. He was a two-time All-MAC second-team selection at cornerback (1993-94) and was co-captain on the Chippewas’ 1994 MAC Championship team. As a junior, he led the squad in tackles with 105 in 1993.

Banks earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial management from Central Michigan in 1995.

THE BANKS FILE  

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: Dec. 16, 1971
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Education: Central Michigan, 1995 (B.A. in industrial management)
Wife: Robin

COACHING HISTORY
1996: Bowling Green, Graduate Assistant
1997-98: Ferris State, Defensive Backs
1999: Bowling Green, Running Backs
2000: Bowling Green, Defensive Backs
2001: Memphis, Outside Linebackers
2002: Memphis, Defensive Backs
2003-05: Maryland, Inside Linebackers
2006: Maryland, Defensive Backs
2007-09: Central Michigan, Defensive Coordinator
2010-11: Cincinnati, Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs
2012-15: Illinois, Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
2016-20: Penn State, Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
2021: Tennessee, Defensive Coordinator

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS (5)
2017 Big Ten – Penn State (co-defensive coordinator/safeties)
2011 Big East – Cincinnati (co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs)
2009 MAC – Central Michigan (defensive coordinator)
2007 MAC – Central Michigan (defensive coordinator)
1994 MAC – Central Michigan (player)

BOWL GAME APPEARANCES (11)
2019 Cotton Bowl – Penn State
2019 Citrus Bowl – Penn State
2017 Fiesta Bowl – Penn State
2017 Rose Bowl – Penn State
2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl – Illinois
2011 Liberty Bowl – Cincinnati
2010 GMAC Bowl – Cincinnati
2008 Motor City Bowl – Central Michigan
2007 Motor City Bowl – Central Michigan
2006 Champs Sports Bowl – Maryland
2004 Gator Bowl – Maryland

-UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee at Mississippi State women’s basketball game scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed due to inclement weather and travel issues. A makeup date has not been set.

The game, originally slated for Feb. 4, was rescheduled for Feb. 16 due to the impact of COVID-19.

The No. 21 Lady Vols, who have yet to travel home from Texas following Sunday’s game at Texas A&M due to a major winter storm that hit the Lone Star State, turn their attention to Thursday’s home contest vs. No. 2 South Carolina.  The annual Live Pink, Bleed Orange game tips at 7:02 p.m. and will be carried by SEC Network.

-UT Athletics

Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes met with the media on Monday afternoon to discuss the Vols upcoming matchup with South Carolina.

On what stood out the most after watching film:
“I thought that we had too many breakdowns defensively. There were some ball screen actions at the start of the game, not getting matched up—which you can’t do that. We gave up a couple of baskets where I think a couple of guys had been out there too long in the second half and didn’t get back to set our defense the way we have to. I think the young guys are trying to do too much—which that’s not their fault necessarily. They’re going to have to understand what’s too much and what’s not enough and get right there in the middle. We knew we would go through a little bit of that when we started playing through the guards more so than the inside—we still need an inside game. We need Yves and John searching for shots, and they’ve had opportunities where they catch it and wait too long. We have some great looks when they were able to stretch the game out. They made some threes, and we had a couple of wide-open looks that we just didn’t make. It just felt like we were fighting uphill all game long because of some breakdowns that we haven’t had as often as you might think, and our one-on-one defense—they hurt us at the point position where they were able to break us down on some straight-line drives.”

On Olivier’s production and how that could lead to more playing time:
“We do think he’s better, but we’ve felt like that at times. We’re hoping this time he is. We thought defensively he was as good as he has been. We still want him to be more active and athletic. He’s an athlete and we see it, but he’s got to put it out there. We don’t want him to be timid. We want him to go in and play with reckless abandon in some areas. He’s capable of blocking shots. We thought Saturday was maybe the most he’s been locked in from the scouting report. You could tell he was really thinking when he was in the game and really concentrating on the things that he needs to do for us.”

On if he has dealt with inconsistent teams in the past:
“I think sometimes we’ve got to give our opponents credit. It’s not like we’re going to overwhelm anybody in the league with talent. We’re talented, but there’s a lot of teams in the league that have talent, too. When talented teams play, sometimes it gets down to who’s making shots more or who’s playing better that day. Do I think where we are is fixable? Absolutely, and I think that’s the exciting thing about it. We haven’t played to the ability that I think we can, and for that to happen we need our guys who have been through it longer to be more consistent. The more consistent they are and the more balanced we are—we definitely need Yves and John Fulkerson and V.J. Bailey. We need those guys playing at the level that we know they’re capable of. The two young guys, I think they’re working hard. I think they’re playing hard. They have the attitude that we want them to have. They’re just learning that not every game is the same. We talk to them about it and try to show them as much as we can, but some of that is going to be experience. They’re playing the most minutes they’ve ever played in their life probably at a high level. They both weren’t very good overall defensively Saturday, and I think fatigue had a little bit to do with it. I know that we can get better with that where they understand that on the offensive end, they did exert some energy sometimes in some areas where they didn’t need to. They got a crowd around them and took some tough shots when they should’ve kicked it out to open shooters. If they’re going to rest, they’re going to have to rest on the offensive end. You can’t rest on the defensive end. As you mature, you learn how to do that. You learn how to work a game as a player. Everybody is going to get winded. You’ve got to learn how to do that in a game without giving up easy baskets on the defensive end. We have coached teams that have been inconsistent. There’s a lot of teams that have gone through this because of the difference in the year. I think these guys have continued to work, and they know that we can get better and play better than we have in some situations.”

On how John Fulkerson responded to coming off the bench Saturday:
“I think it helped him in some ways because we showed him that if he would do what he did the first three minutes into the game—he ran the floor, we made a couple of great passes to him. He had a rim shot. He had another one before he even thought about scoring. That’s what I mean when I talk about hunting shots. He had the ball right where we wanted it, and instead of looking to score, he passed the ball out. There was nobody around him. He had no reason to pass it out. He was right where he should be. Then, he had a really good slip play, where he got the ball but was lazy going to the rim and got it blocked. Those should be dunks. That’s four points that he should have had, but he didn’t. What he did is, he got his hands to the ball, he broke it loose and we were able to come up with. I do know he cares enough about himself and this team that he wants to do well. I can’t tell you why he looks tired. Well, I do know. I think he’s had a year where he’s been game-planned for hard and teams have come after him really hard. They’re trying to be physical with him. He showed Saturday—if you watch the game through our eyes—that when he first came in the game that’s the John Fulkerson that we know he can be. He’s just going to have to do it longer. If he can do that for 25 minutes a night, it would help us a lot. He did it for two and a half or three minutes. He was doing what he needed to do. He did have a few busted ball screen plays. He’s been doing it longer than anybody and those shouldn’t happen. He’ll be fine. We’ll keep figuring out what we want to do with the lineup. I don’t think it matters. I told you guys that before. We still need seven or eight guys playing at a very high level and playing 20+ minutes for this team to be what we need it to be.”

On how different the NCAA Tournament will be this year with the S-curve and how difficult it will be to evaluate teams with such few non-conference games:
“I’m not sure there’s going to be a lot of difference. I do know this: from day one, the NCAA Tournament committee is working. They’re out and watching games. They’re looking at it. I think they will, obviously, take into consideration how different teams have had to deal with COVID-19. But I think it will probably—l go back to how it used to be, maybe in the 90’s and early 2000s, where you have to look at it when the numbers might now tell the tale. You’re going to have to look at it because they’re charge is to put the 68 best teams in the Tournament, whatever that may be. In a year like we have right now, is it more difficult without all of the computer stuff that I guess they used to do? I don’t really know enough about it to really tell you that. They could tell you that. I do know this: They will be as fair and as responsible as they possibly can be to get the best 68 teams. We know that the Tournament represents every state in the country. It’s a huge event for our country. I know that the basketball committee has taken it seriously from day one, to make sure they can get their eyes on as much and as many games. I’d be shocked if that committee hasn’t watched every game at every level that they’ve been able to get.”

On if Coach has any information on making up games canceled due to COVID from this season:
“You know, I don’t know. I don’t know the answer to that. I’m not sure exactly how the SEC has done it. I don’t know if they have just gone back from day one that was missed, I don’t know how they do it. Again, I think they have done a great job with trying to get us through this year. Like you said, there are three open dates, but I don’t know. I really don’t know how it will be but I would be surprised if those games are not made up someway somehow, but what the rhythm will be, I don’t know. I’m not sure anybody knows right now because of the weather going on around the country right now and other things that pop up that could cancel the game this week, so I just don’t think we know.”

On the South Carolina Scout for the upcoming game on Tuesday:
“As you know, his teams are always playing hard. They’re a little bit different from a year ago because of the amount of time they’ve missed. I mean there is not a better coach in the country, and his team has in their DNA the ability to play really hard, turn people over, and rebound the ball. I think right now they are playing at like the tenth fastest pace in the country, which is not what I think you would associate with him. But he has done an unbelievable job in the amount of time that he has had to practice to make the adjustments that he has made. Anytime you go up against this team, it is going to be a hard-fought basketball game, because they are going to compete at every level. They are going to play every possession as if it matters. But like I said, they are in the gaps, and they do a great job at those gap strips. In the past they might have been in the passing lanes more, but running the kind of defense that he normally likes to run it does take time and a lot of work day-in and day-out which no one teaches any better than he does. So, he has had to make some adjustments, and that is why he is the coach that he is.”

On how far Santiago Vescovi has come since last year and how coach would address his play right now:
“You know, it is kind of a long way obviously. He was not in shape at all and what he did a year ago was really pretty phenomenal. But, I think he is learning now that people are game-planning for him at a very high level. They’re trying to get him in as many ball screen situations and isolation situations, and he is learning that. But he is a better defender than people might think, and you see him when he brings the ball down the court, people are trying to get into him and harass him like that. He is very stubborn in the fact that I have told him many times—and I tell the other guards why to make him go through that just go get the ball from him because he is great moving without the ball. He’s not afraid of the pressure at all, he’s just not. But I think he is learning a lot and he is still young, and I think he is going to continue to get better. We need him to play at a speed, and he’s comfortable playing at a speed. But he has come a long way, and he is continuing to learn a lot. But he is going to continue to get better as time goes on.”

On if he saw the light come on for Jaden with his performance the last three games:
“Well, do you know if you know the level he is going to score at—I don’t know if you ever know that. First of all, Jaden is a really good passer—you have to throw Keon in there too, and they’re not afraid to go and initiate a play in which we have needed that. We want it from other guys. We want it from Yves. We want it from Fulky. We want it from all of our guys to want to be aggressive. Those guys have done it, but like I said Saturday, Jaden made a couple of terrific passes, and he took two shots he should’ve kicked out. Keon is learning you’re not going to be able to continue to spin, and we’ve told him that. Sometimes, you have to keep getting burnt until you understand it. With Jaden I am not surprised. Since we have watched him in high school, he’s a major league competitor, and you have a no idea how strong he is in his lower body. He has worked really hard on shooting the basketball, and he’s obviously done a good job with that. He’s always been a great finisher around the rim, and he’s got the mid-range game. I think the biggest thing he’s done is learning how to play through fatigue for the first time in his life. It’s where he is really playing hard, hitting that wall, and figuring out how to get through it, as opposed to hitting it and getting knocked back. So, it has taken him time to do that. Some of that too is missing the summer and the normal year, and that’s probably where it’s hurt his and Keon’s conditioning more. Now that we are at this time of year, they have had to play their way into shape, whereas they are normally in shape for this time. That’s the biggest thing both guys have done, where they have gone from playing 24-26 minutes a game, to where they have been out there 30-plus, and for the most part they have been productive on both ends.”

On what he has seen from VJ Bailey over the last month, and if anything is going on with him with the struggle of being a volume shooter and trying to find other ways to impact the game:
“I think VJ is learning to play basketball in a different way and understanding you can impact the game when you’re not making shots. In the past, that’s where he saw his worth, but we still need him to do that and take open shots and be aggressive. Learning to guard on and off the ball is important obviously, but he is a good enough player that he should be able to impact the game whether or not he’s making shots. We still want him to be who he is in that area. With all of our guys, we can’t trade baskets. You can’t do that the way we want to win, and we’re going to have to get stops at some point in time. He’s gotten much better at understanding what we’re trying to do as a team. He has spent a lot of time recently at practice trying to play the point, in which that will help him learn to impact the game on the offensive end. It obviously puts him in a lot of ball screen situations in practice, so those areas are where he needed work, and if he gets that kind of rep, sooner or later it’s going to show up for him.”

-UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Day one of the 2021 season for No. RV/23/24 Tennessee softball is finally in the books and the Lady Vols made the program’s first-ever home season opener a positive note.

A doubleheader day against Eastern Kentucky on Sunday at Sherri Parker Lee decisively favored the Orange and White as they opened with a quick 10-0, five-inning victory before closing things out in a 3-2 comeback win.

UT was originally scheduled to play a five-game, Friday-Sunday slate at the Kickin’ Chicken Classic in Conway, S.C., but never saw the field at St. John Stadium due to continuous rainfall that eventually led to the tournament’s cancellation.

While heading back from Conway, Tennessee’s coaching staff and administrators were able to confirm Sunday’s outings with the Colonels on Saturday afternoon and the Lady Vols took the field at SPL 342 days after their final game of the abridged 2020 season.

Game 1 saw the return of junior ace Ashley Rogers who went the distance as the Lady Vols dominated the Colonels and clipped their 18-game win streak, which was the longest active streak in the nation.

Rogers returned to the circle for the first time in 631 days after missing all of the 2020 season. She was temporarily sidelined by an injury, but was due to return the weekend the season was postponed and ultimately canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Athens, Tenn., native came back in form and fanned 13, matching her career high. Rogers retired eight of EKU’s first nine batters and pitched a perfect game through three innings, giving up two walks in the top of the fourth and one hit in the fifth.

Offensively, the Lady Vols let their bats talk and after so much quiet time, they spoke loudly. Four different players went yard for UT, which ties for seventh in program history for home runs in a game and marks the 16th occasion the feat was accomplished. Additionally, eight different players scored runs in the first game of the day.

Ally Shipman batted 1.000 (3-for-3) and opened scoring for UT with a long shot to left center in the top of the second, before Josie Willingham made her way around the bases after some small ball.

The Lady Vols took off in the following inning, collecting eight runs in the bottom of the third. Kiki Milloy (2-for-3) found the plate twice after leading off the frame with a single, stealing second and coming home off of the bat of Shipman.

Ahead 3-0, senior first baseman Ashley Morgan (1-for-2) belted a no-doubter right through center field to bring in Chelsea Seggern (0-for-2) and Shipman and give the Orange and White a six-run advantage. Moments later newcomer and senior Ivy Davis (1-for-1) knocked a long shot through center field with one out and Cailin Hannon (0-for-2) at first base.

Milloy made her way back to the plate and this time went yard to bring in Kaitlin Parsons from third and keep the game out of reach. The opening victory marks the 11th consecutive season UT has started a season in the win column.

UT 3, EKU 2 (Game 2)
The Colonels struck quickly in the second game of the day recording a two-run homer in the opening half to put the Lady Vols on their heels and move ahead 2-0.

UT was able to cut the lead in half in their first offensive outing with an RBI single from Seggern (2-for-4) that brought in leadoff hitter Amanda Ayala (1-for-3). Ayala recorded her lone hit of the day with a big double to get some early momentum.

However, the Lady Vols were not able to get much going despite outhitting the Colonels 7-2. UT went scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when Shipman (1-for-4) came through again with a big at-bat, going yard for the second time of the day to knot things 2-2.

A single from Hannon (2-for-3) and a couple of walks jammed the bags with Lady Vols with two outs. Freshman Rylie West stepped in to pinch hit for Parsons and was tagged at the base to get the RBI and bring in KK McCrary (0-for-2) from the hot corner for the go-ahead run and the 3-2 win.

Freshman Bailey McCachren got her first start in the circle and picked up the win. She gave up a pair of hits, runs and walks in 5.0 innings of work and retired three batters.

Rogers picked up the save after coming in to start the sixth inning and struck out five batters to clinch the day.

Fun fact: The Valentine’s Day start is the latest the Lady Vols have opened a season since 1999 when they began the year on Feb. 19 against Miami (OH) in Tampa, Fla.

Next up: Tennessee hosts a pair of double headers on Saturday and Sunday at Sherri Parker Lee. The Lady Vols host SEMO on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET, followed by Miami (OH) at 3 p.m. The matchups flip on Sunday with Miami (OH) at 12:30 p.m., followed by SEMO at 3 p.m.

Fans and media will be admitted for home contests moving forward in a limited capacity to comply with pandemic-related guidelines and requirements.

Box Score Game 1 (PDF) | Box Score Game 2 (PDF)

-UT Athletics