Penn State co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Tim Banks is leaving State College after five seasons. On Monday, he received an opportunity to become the defensive coordinator at Tennessee, a role he couldn’t pass up.

Banks joined James Franklin’s staff at Penn State in 2016. Before that, he was the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Illinois, a position he was in from 2012-15. Now, he’ll officially begin a new journey in the SEC on Josh Heupel’s Volunteers staff.

As Banks leaves the B1G for the SEC, Franklin had a message for his five-year assistant.

“I would like to thank Tim for everything he has contributed to our program,” Franklin wrote. “This was a great opportunity for him to be the defensive play caller and DC at Tennessee. I have spent seven seasons on staffs with Tim at Maryland and Penn State, and I have enjoyed watching him develop into the coach he is today. Time and his wife, Robin, will always have a special place in my family’s heart. We are excited for Tim and his family and wish him nothing but success in the future.”

Not only does Banks bring over a decade of defensive coordinator and defensive back coaching experience to Knoxville, he’s also an excellent recruiter. According to 247Sports’ 2021 recruiter rankings, Banks was one of the 10 best in that area in the B1G and ranked No. 51 nationally.