The Heupel Mandate: Vols Willing to ‘Throw Money Around’ in DC Search

The Tennessee Volunteers’ search for a new defensive coordinator following the firing of Tim Banks has become one of the most closely watched coaching searches of the offseason, and a respected college football insider has provided two crucial pieces of intelligence that define the parameters of Josh Heupel’s pursuit.

Chris Low, a well-sourced reporter for On3 Sports, revealed that the Tennessee administration and Head Coach Josh Heupel have signaled two key intentions that will heavily influence the direction of the hire:

1. Speed is Paramount: The Vols will be working with a sense of urgency and plan to make the hire quickly.

2. Financial Commitment: Tennessee is prepared to “throw some money around” to secure the right person for the job, indicating a willingness to pay an elite-level salary for an elite-level coordinator.

These two factors suggest that Tennessee is prioritizing an established, proven defensive coordinator who can immediately step in and elevate the defense to an SEC championship-caliber level, rather than conducting a prolonged search for an up-and-comer. The willingness to commit significant financial resources confirms the gravity of the position and the program’s belief that defensive improvements are the next step to consistent national contention.

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The Leading Candidate & Familiarity Factor

While Heupel is known for keeping his coaching searches guarded, one name has dominated the speculation and has been repeatedly cited by multiple reporters, including Pete Nakos and Chris Low: Ryan Walters, the current Defensive Coordinator at Washington.

The connection to Walters is based heavily on familiarity and defensive pedigree:

• Heupel Connection: Walters served as the co-Defensive Coordinator and Safeties Coach at Missouri in 2016-2017 while Josh Heupel was the Offensive Coordinator for the Tigers. This shared experience suggests a mutual understanding of coaching philosophies and the demands of the SEC.

• Defensive Pedigree: Prior to a two-year, 5-19 stint as the Head Coach at Purdue, Walters had impressive coordinator success. Most notably, he led the Illinois defense to the No. 1 scoring defense in the nation in 2022, earning him a Broyles Award (top assistant) finalist nomination. His current Washington defense is ranked in the Top 20 nationally in total defense in his first season.

• Position Fit: Walters’ primary position experience is coaching safeties, the same position Banks coached at Tennessee. This could allow for a seamless transition for the defensive backs.

The Walters Denial and the Search Secrecy

Despite the heavy media linkage, Walters publicly addressed the speculation, dismissing the links as “rumors” and stating he has had “zero communication” with the Vols. He acknowledged the “easy connect-the-dots deal” given his history with Heupel, but affirmed his commitment to Washington for the immediate future.

This public dismissal, however, does not necessarily rule him out. It aligns with Heupel’s well-known preference for secrecy in the hiring process.

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The Hot Board: Other Names in Circulation

The financial commitment reported by Low makes the search wide-ranging and competitive. Other notable candidates who have been frequently mentioned by reporters and analysts include:

• Jim Knowles: Former Penn State Defensive Coordinator (fired by new coach Matt Campbell). Knowles was poached by Penn State from Ohio State with a substantial contract and is considered to be a high-pedigree candidate with recent success in the Big Ten.

• Travaris Robinson: Co-Defensive Coordinator at Georgia. Robinson has extensive SEC experience at various stops (Florida, Auburn, South Carolina, Alabama) and is considered a strong recruiter, though the Tennessee job would likely be his first opportunity to be the sole defensive play-caller at a major program.

• Colin Hitschler: Defensive Coordinator at James Madison. Hitschler led one of the nation’s best scoring defenses at JMU (2nd nationally) this season and has a connection to the SEC from a co-DC role at Alabama in 2024. He is another young, rising star.

• Jerod Mayo: Former New England Patriots Head Coach and former Tennessee linebacker. Mayo’s NFL experience and Vol loyalty make him a fan favorite, though his recruiting ability and lack of college coaching experience are question marks.

Interim Status

In the meantime, Tennessee Linebackers Coach William Inge—who has previous defensive coordinator experience at Washington—is serving as the interim defensive coordinator for the Music City Bowl. However, given the reporter’s key information about pursuing a quick, big-money hire, an in-house promotion of Inge is generally viewed as a less likely, “fallback” option.

The overall takeaway from the insider reports is that Josh Heupel is aiming high and is empowered by the Tennessee administration to land a proven, high-profile defensive mind who can deliver championship-level defense in a hurry.