Bob Shoop was going to have big shoes to fill.

The former Penn State coordinator led the Lions to back-to-back top-15 finishes in total defense before departing for Tennessee. To replace him, PSU promoted linebackers coach Brent Pry to defensive coordinator.

On Monday, the team announced it wasn’t done replacing Shoop.

The Lions hired former Illinois defensive coordinator Tim Banks to share the same position with Pry and coach the safeties.

“I am excited about having an opportunity to work with Coach Franklin and his staff,” Banks said in a release. “James is one of the brightest football minds in the country and it was just an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. Growing up in the Midwest, I saw Penn State play on TV almost every weekend and I know the history and tradition that this program has, so this is very much an honor and a humbling experience to join the Penn State family.”

RELATED: Penn State names defensive coordinator

Banks spent the last four seasons leading the Illinois defense. Despite the fact that the Illini missed out on a bowl game this season, the defense finished 15th in passing yards allowed.

He left Illinois after Bill Cubit tried to get him to share co-coordinator duties with Mike Phair.

Banks and James Franklin have ties that date back to their days together at Maryland, where they were both assistants. In addition to Illinois and Maryland, Banks also had stops at Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Central Michigan, Ferris State and Memphis.

He and Pry will inherit a unit that finished eighth in the country against the pass, but that was thanks in large part to three defensive linemen that are off to the NFL.

Banks’ addition marked the third of the offseason for PSU. Joe Moorhead was hired as the team’s new offensive coordinator and former Minnesota OC Matt Limegrover was brought in to take over the offensive line.