News from the Tennessee Volunteers
Jim Knowles, the defensive coordinator for Tennessee, makes no secret of his opinion of Rodney Garner, the Vols’ defensive line coach.
Jim Knowles was appointed the defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Vols earlier this offseason.
The focus quickly turned to the composition of the remainder of UT’s defensive staff following the coaching move, when Jim Knowles was hired by the Tennessee Vols to take over as the program’s defensive coordinator from Tim Banks.
Knowles brought with him a number of new coaches, such as Andrew Jackson, the LEOs coach, Derek Jones, the cornerbacks coach, and Anthony Poindexter, the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach, as well as many analysts.
(Knowles did not keep outside linebackers coach LeVorn Harbin and cornerbacks coach Willie Martinez. )
The majority of Tennessee supporters were overjoyed that Knowles kept Rodney Garner, the defensive line coach, who will be 60 years old this summer.
One reason Garner’s status was up in the air at the start of the offseason was that he had no prior ties to Knowles.
Jim Knowles makes a powerful statement about Rodney Garner, the defensive line coach for the Vols.
During a meeting with reporters in Knoxville on Thursday, Knowles was asked for his opinion about Garner.
Garner was immediately dubbed an “SEC legend” by Tennessee’s new defensive coordinator.
“Because Rodney Garner is a legend, I’ll begin there,” Knowles stated. “He is a true legend when it comes to coaching the D-line. ” He is also a well-known figure in the SEC. He’s really well-known in my opinion, and he pushes his players hard when you see him in action, but he cherishes them immediately after.
“That’s an unusual combination. I like to be that way—to push them, give them challenging jobs, but also make sure they know that I care about them. That is his whole deal.
Few, if any, assistant coaches in college football are as highly regarded as Garner, who is currently working as an assistant coach for Tennessee for the second time.
It was a no-brainer for Knowles to retain the veteran defensive line coach on staff because Garner was willing to stay in Knoxville.
