The staff is taking shape.
Jim Knowles wasn’t in Nashville this week for good reason as the veteran defensive coordinator put the finishing touches on his staff. Knowles and Josh Heupel made a trio of hires this week, adding Anthony Poindexter as safeties coach, Andrew Jackson as EDGE coach and Michael Hunter as cornerbacks coach.
Defensive backs coach Willie Martinez will not return to Tennessee.
Poindexter was the co-defensive coordinator with Knowles this season at Penn State, while also coaching the safeties. It was the lone season that Poindexter and Knowles had worked together. Now they’ll continue that relationship in Knoxville, set to try and revamp a Tennessee defense that really struggled in 2025.
Andrew Jackson will also follow Knowles coming from Penn State. Jackson coached the EDGE position for the Nittany Lions this past season. He spent four seasons at West Virginia before that. Chop Harbin’s status with Tennessee is unclear at this point.
Tennessee was also able to get Michael Hunter away from Ohio State, where he was the assistant defensive backs coach. Hunter was with Knowles at both Oklahoma State and Ohio State. He’ll be immediately tasked with remaking nearly the entire cornerback room with Jermod McCoy, Rickey Gibson, Boo Carter, Colton Hood and Jalen McMurray on the way out. Expect to see the Volunteers very active in the cornerback market.
Elsewhere on staff, Rodney Garner is expected to stay on as defensive line coach and is working on finalizing a new deal. Linebackers coach William Inge is also expected to remain in his position.
Category: General Sports
