When Jim Knowles made the move to Tennessee and called Anthony Poindexter about joining him, there wasn’t a second thought. The bond they built while coaching Penn State’s defense in 2025 was strong enough that when Knowles extended the offer, Poindexter was all in.
“Nah, no hesitation at all,” Poindexter said on The Mike Keith Show. “We met a long time ago, but we were together for nine months, and for him to come to me and ask me to come with him - that speaks volumes.”
Now Tennessee’s safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator, Poindexter brings more than just a decorated resume to Rocky Top. He brings a deep understanding of what it takes to connect with players - and how those connections translate into performance on the field.
For Poindexter, it’s not just about X’s and O’s. It’s about trust.
“I think we gotta have great relationships,” he said. “When you have that with a player, he lets you coach him. That’s the most important part - being able to coach him, get him ready to play, ready to fit into the system.”
That mindset isn’t just talk. It’s backed by how players respond to him.
When Poindexter left Penn State, linebacker Tony Rojas didn’t hold back his feelings on social media: “This one hurt. One of the rarest coaches I’ve seen actually care for us and build a genuine relationship with every player.”
That kind of praise doesn’t come easy - especially from players in today’s game. But Poindexter’s background helps explain it.
He’s been in their cleats. A former All-American safety at Virginia, Poindexter was a three-time First Team All-ACC selection and the 1998 ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
His No. 3 jersey was retired in 2009, and he’s a College Football Hall of Famer with a Super Bowl ring from his time with the Baltimore Ravens.
But he doesn’t lead with that. He doesn’t need to.
“They can look me up if they want to,” he said. Instead, he focuses on what matters now - building the kind of defensive back room that plays with grit, toughness, and accountability.
And that’s especially important this offseason, as Tennessee has retooled its safety group through the transfer portal. The Vols return Edrees Farooq, their highest-graded safety from last season according to PFF, but they’ve added plenty of new faces to the competition. Former Michigan safety TJ Metcalf, Kansas State’s Qua Moss, Penn State’s Dejuan Lane, and App State’s DJ Burks are all in the mix.
It’s a fresh start in the secondary, and Poindexter is setting the tone early.
“Everybody wants to play in the game, but not everybody wants to practice - and practice the right way,” he said. “To develop these guys, you need players with that innate drive and energy.
And they’ve got to be tough. I told them, ‘I can’t deal with softness.’
That’s just who I am. But if they’re tough, competitive, and have a feel for the game, they’ll be a good safety.”
For Poindexter, toughness isn’t just about laying the big hit - it’s about showing up every day, competing, and embracing the grind. That’s the culture he’s bringing to Tennessee’s defensive backfield, and with Knowles overseeing the defense, the Vols are clearly aiming to raise their standard on that side of the ball.
It’s early, and there’s still a long offseason ahead. But with Poindexter helping lead the charge, Tennessee’s secondary is in the hands of a coach who’s done it all - and knows exactly what it takes to get there.