Tennessee expected to retain key defensive assistant coach, per report ...Middle East

The Tennessee Volunteers already made one move on their defensive coaching staff, firing coordinator Tim Banks and hiring Jim Knowles away from Penn State. But another assistant appears to be staying put in Knoxville.

Defensive line coach Rodney Garner reportedly is returning to the Volunteers in 2026, as On3Sports reported Sunday that the expectation is that head coach Josh Heupel will extend the 36-year veteran assistant.

The expectation is that Rodney Garner will return as Tennessee defensive line coach in 2026, a source tells @On3sports. He had been the lone assistant on an expiring contract. Has developed James Pearce Jr. and Derrick Brown, among others. t.co/oFirWEofUv pic.twitter.com/ax0Dx9rutv

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) December 28, 2025

Garner has been on the Tennessee staff since 2021 and is currently on an expiring contract. Garner has curated several future NFL linemen, including James Pearce Jr., Omarr Norman-Lott, Byron Young, Matthew Butler and Derrick Brown.

Tennessee went from boasting one of the best defenses in the country in 2024 to a unit that ranked 14th in the SEC in total yards allowed and points allowed per game in 2025. The Vols allowed at least 30 points in seven of eight SEC games. They ranked 92nd nationally in scoring defense (28.8 ppg) and 116th in pass defense (248.8 ypg).

Garner starred as a nose guard at Auburn from 1985-88 and coached there from 1990-95. He coached at Tennessee in 1996-97, then went to Georgia from 1998-2012. Garner returned to Auburn from 2013-20 before heading back to Tennessee in 2021.

Tennessee expected to retain key defensive assistant coach, per report Saturday Down South.

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