How much does Tennessee football owe Tim Banks? Buyout for fired coach
Sports Update: Here’s the latest development from the world of sports, shared for readers of IndiaTips.in. This update covers highlights, major events, athlete performances, and key stories across multiple sporting disciplines.
UT owes defensive coordinator Tim Banks more than $4.5 million after Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel fired Banks on Dec. 8.
Banks was earning $2.15 million annually based on his contract extension and raise in January 2025. The deal ran through Jan. 32, 2028. UT has to pay Banks the remaining value of his contract, which covers two full years and approximately seven weeks after Heupel's choice to dismiss Banks.
"I want to thank Tim for everything he has done for Tennessee the last five seasons," Heupel said in a school release. "He helped restore our program to national prominence. More importantly, Tim is a great man of character and someone I have the utmost respect for. We wish Tim all the best moving forward."
Banks earned $1.5 million annually on the final two years of his original contract upon his hire in February 2021. He earned $1.3 million in his first season at UT and $1.4 million in his second.
He received a hefty raise following the 2024 season in which he was a Broyles Award finalist, but Tennessee's defensive performance plummeted in the 2025 season.
Banks' contract has standard mitigation language for Tennessee athletics contracts, which require him to make "reasonable and diligent efforts as soon as practicable following termination to obtain another comparable employment or paid services position that coach is able to obtain based on his skill and experience." Such employment would lower the buyout Tennessee owes to Banks.
Banks was the first assistant coach fired by Heupel in his UT tenure, which began with the 2021 season.
Banks guided a dominant Tennessee defense in 2024 that allowed only 16.1 points per game, which was essential for the Vols reach the College Football Playoff for the first time. UT's defense dropped off in 2025m allowing at least 30 points in seven of eight SEC games. It ranked 92nd nationally in scoring defense (28.8 ppg) and 116th in pass defense (248.8 ypg).
Linebackers coach William Inge will serve as interim defensive coordinator when No. 23 Tennessee (8-4) plays Illinois (8-4) in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Nashville. Inge previously served as either defensive coordinator or co-defensive coordinator at Northern Iowa (2004), Buffalo (2010-11), Indiana (2013-15), Fresno State (2020-21) and Washington (2022-23).
Knox News reporter Adam Sparks contributed to this report
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tim Banks buyout, contract, Tennessee football owes more than $4.5 million
Context & Insight:
The sports world continues to evolve with new achievements, record-breaking performances, tournament updates, rising athletes, major transfers, and global competitions across different disciplines. General sports coverage brings a broad perspective by capturing the biggest moments happening across various leagues and events.
Original Source:
Read the full report at the original publisher
