Tennessee Hires Jim Knowles as New Defensive Coordinator

Knowles discusses his plans to install a new defensive scheme and work with the team's existing coaches and players.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Jim Knowles, the new defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Volunteers football team, held his first press conference in Knoxville on Thursday. Knowles discussed his plans to install a new defensive scheme, including starting with a "clean slate" but also incorporating some of the team's existing terminology. He highlighted the addition of Penn State edge rusher Chaz Coleman as a valuable transfer and praised the work of existing Tennessee defensive coaches Rodney Garner and William Inge. Knowles also expressed comfort in working with the Volunteers' up-tempo offense under head coach Josh Heupel.

Why it matters

Knowles is tasked with improving a Tennessee defense that struggled at times last season. His track record of building top-15 defenses at previous stops suggests he can make a significant impact. Retaining respected assistants like Garner and Inge while also bringing in new talent like Coleman signals Knowles' intent to blend old and new as he installs his system.

The details

Knowles said he plans to throw a lot at the players early in spring practice to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, then scale back the scheme before building it back up. He highlighted the advantage of having several players, including Coleman, who are already familiar with his defensive system from their time at Penn State. Knowles also praised the leadership and communication style of head coach Josh Heupel, saying Heupel has been "extremely down to earth" and focused on the team's overall success.

  • Knowles joined the Tennessee staff in December 2025 and spent time observing the team during bowl game preparations.
  • Knowles held his first press conference as Tennessee's new defensive coordinator on February 19, 2026.

The players

Jim Knowles

The new defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Volunteers football team, known for building top-15 defenses at his previous coaching stops.

Chaz Coleman

A Penn State edge rusher who transferred to Tennessee, described by Knowles as "explosive" and "difficult to block."

Rodney Garner

Tennessee's defensive line coach, described by Knowles as a "legend" when it comes to coaching the defensive line in the SEC.

William Inge

Tennessee's linebackers coach, praised by Knowles for leading the best position group on the Volunteers' defense.

Josh Heupel

The head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers, known for his up-tempo offense and described by Knowles as "genuine" and focused on the team's overall success.

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What they’re saying

“That's a good question because I've done it differently at different places. But here we are starting from a clean slate. That doesn't mean that we don't use some things that they've used in the past. I try to listen to maybe a certain way that they called a certain thing, and I can change on that if they're already familiar with a certain term. But in general, I'd say we're starting from a clean slate.”

— Jim Knowles, Defensive Coordinator (on3.com)

“He's explosive. He's difficult to block. He has a little bit of an invisible cloak, you where he can twist, turn, beat guys one-on-one. He has great initial quickness off the ball. So he's a guy that can create havoc for an offense and really creates a matchup issue.”

— Jim Knowles, Defensive Coordinator (on3.com)

“Our head coach is as genuine and as real as anybody I've been around in terms of wanting the defense to be successful, wanting the special team, wanting everybody to be successful. So he is the farthest thing from a me guy or an ego guy. He's extremely down to earth, communicates well.”

— Jim Knowles, Defensive Coordinator (on3.com)

“Rodney Garner is a legend, so I'm going to start right there. He's really a legend when it comes to, when it comes to coaching D-line, an SEC legend. I think he's extremely well known. And when you watch him, he coaches his players very hard, but he loves them right after that. That's a unique combination.”

— Jim Knowles, Defensive Coordinator (on3.com)

“And Coach Inge, his room, that linebacker room, one of the things I learned during my evaluation period was that linebacker room was the best room on defense, but it was maybe the best room on the team in terms of how close those guys are and how they work together and how he manages his players.”

— Jim Knowles, Defensive Coordinator (on3.com)

What’s next

Knowles and his staff will work to install the new defensive scheme during spring practice, evaluating players' strengths and weaknesses before building the full system.

The takeaway

Knowles' arrival at Tennessee signals a renewed focus on improving the Volunteers' defense. His track record of success, combined with his plans to blend new and existing elements, suggest he can help transform the unit into one of the SEC's best. Retaining respected assistants like Garner and Inge while also bringing in new talent like Coleman indicates Knowles' intent to build a well-rounded, high-performing defense.