Tennessee isn’t just tweaking around the edges this offseason - the Vols are making a statement. After an 8-5 season that left plenty to be desired, Josh Heupel and the athletic department have responded with a clear message: it’s time to raise the bar.
The headline move came with the hiring of Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator. Knowles brings a reputation for building aggressive, disciplined units, and his arrival signals a shift in tone on that side of the ball.
But Tennessee didn’t stop there. They doubled down on defensive leadership by bringing in co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Anthony Poindexter, cornerbacks coach Michael Hunter Jr., and LEOs coach AJ Jackson.
All three have ties to either Penn State or Ohio State - two programs known for producing elite defensive talent - and they’re expected to inject new energy and experience into a defense that needed a reset.
These additions are big, no question. But one of the most intriguing moves might be the one that doesn’t show up in a box score: the hiring of Derek Owings as head strength and conditioning coach.
Owings comes to Knoxville after six seasons working alongside Curt Cignetti, including the past two at Indiana. Most notably, he joins the Vols fresh off a national championship run with the Hoosiers.
That’s no small thing. Strength and conditioning coaches set the tone for a program’s physical identity - they’re the first ones players see in the morning and often the last ones they hear from before leaving the facility.
Owings brings a championship pedigree and a track record of building fast, physical teams. Tennessee’s decision to bring him in shows a clear commitment to reshaping the program from the inside out.
As Volquest’s Austin Price put it, “They saw this as a chance to improve the defensive staff. They took it.
They went and did it. They saw this as a chance to improve the strength and conditioning program.
You go out and land the national champion strength coach? That speaks volumes.”
And it’s not just about new faces - Tennessee is also locking in key returning staff. Wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope has been extended, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle signed a new deal, defensive line coach Rodney Garner is staying put with a fresh contract, and linebackers coach William Inge remains on board. Continuity in key spots, paired with new blood where it was needed - that’s the kind of balance smart programs aim for.
On the recruiting front, the Vols have been just as aggressive. They signed 27 players from the 2026 class, headlined by five-stars Faizon Brandon (QB), Tristen Keys (WR), and Gabriel Osenda (OT).
That’s a trio that could form the spine of Tennessee’s offense for years to come. In the portal, Tennessee added 18 players, including five-star EDGE Chaz Coleman, four-star defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam, and three-star linebacker Amare Campbell - all of whom played under Knowles at Penn State last season.
That familiarity should help ease the transition as Knowles installs his system in Knoxville.
There’s no sugarcoating it - last season didn’t meet expectations. But the moves Tennessee has made over the last two months show a program that isn’t standing still. From the weight room to the secondary, from the recruiting trail to the coordinator’s booth, the Vols are retooling with purpose.
And if the early energy around these hires is any indication, Tennessee isn’t just trying to bounce back - it’s aiming to level up.
Owings has already hit the ground running, leading workouts in Knoxville and setting the tone for what’s to come. The Vols may still have to prove it on the field this fall, but behind the scenes, it’s clear: this is a team preparing to play faster, tougher, and smarter - and they’ve brought in the people to make that happen.