FULL GABE KUHN SHOW AUDIO: New Memphis DC Jordon Hankins joined Gabe Kuhn to discuss the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Memphis Football, and his coaching philosophy . Full Interview:
The Memphis Tigers didn't have to go very far to find their new defensive coordinator. After a sensational job running the defense for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl beatdown of Iowa State, Ryan Silverfield promoted Jordon Hankins to the job full-time.
From the Memphis Tigers Athletics Website:
Jordon Hankins just finished his third season as linebackers coach and assistant special teams coordinator for Memphis in 2023 prior to the interim coaching job at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. The former Marshall linebackers coach/special teams coordinator, was hired on Jan. 28, 2021.
In 2022, Hankins helped guide the Tigers to a 38-10 victory over Utah State in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. Memphis finished the season ranked fifth in the nation in fewest penalties (53), 10th in interceptions (16) and 25th in turnovers gained (25).
Individually, kicker Chris Howard was named First-Team All-AAC, while linebacker Xavier "Zay" Cullens earned second-team accolades. Howard led the conference and ranked 11th nationally in field goals per game (1.62) and ranked 19th in the country in field goal percentage (.875). Cullens led the AAC and finished second in the nation with four fumble recoveries and ranked 44th in the country with 8.5 tackles per game.
In his first season in 2021 at Memphis, Hankins helped the Tigers to the program’s eighth-straight bowl appearance, as the team was named EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl champions after Hawai’i withdrew from the game.
Under Hankins, JJ Russell was a force for Memphis at linebacker in 2021, leading the AAC with 123 total tackles, 78 solo tackles and 10.3 tackles per game to earn first-team honors. Russell was the first Memphis linebacker to earn first-team honors since Genard Avery in 2017.
Nationally, he ranked fourth in the nation in solo tackles (6.5) and ninth in total tackles (10.2). Russell also led the Tigers with eight quarterback hurries on the year to go with 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble.
Hankins completed his first season at Marshall where the Thundering Herd finished 7-3 overall and 4-1 in Conference USA while reaching the C-USA Championship Game and playing in the Camellia Bowl. Under Hankins, senior linebacker Tavante Beckett was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, as well as to the C-USA All-Conference first-team. Joining Beckett on the first team was punt returner Talik Keaton, while sophomore linebacker Eli Neal and junior long snapper Zach Appio were honorable mention selections.
Prior to Marshall, Hankins spent 10 years at UT Martin in five different positions, including the last three as the Skyhawks’ defensive coordinator.
Hankins coached 20 players who earned Ohio Valley Conference postseason honors in 2019 as UT Martin led the OVC in scoring defense allowing only 19.5 points per game and just 20 touchdowns in league play. The Skyhawks also led the OVC in pass defense efficiency (111.0), red zone defense (73.0%), defensive TDs (3), sacks (25) and turnover margin (+5). Nationally, UT Martin ranked ninth in blocked kicks, 10th in punt return defense, 11th in both blocked punts and defensive TDs, 15th in fewest penalties per game, 19th in fewest penalties, 20th in pass defense efficiency and 25th in interceptions.
In 2018, UT Martin ranked 17th nationally in tackles for loss (7.6 per game), 26th in rushing defense (130.5) and 30th in first-down defense. In OVC play, the Skyhawks ranked second in rushing defense (134.2), pass defense (202.1), total defense (332.4) and tackles for loss as well as third in third-down conversions (35.5%), fourth-down conversions (43.8%) and red zone defense (79.3%). They were fourth in scoring defense (29.0) and sacks (1.88).
In his first year as defensive coordinator in 2017, Hankins led UT Martin’s defense to be ranked nationally in red zone defense (3rd, 60.6%), scoring defense (4th, 14.3), third-down conversions (5th, 28.7%), total defense (6th, 273.8), punt returns (7th, 3.59), first-down defense (8th, 168 ypg), team passing efficiency (8th, 104.3), fourth-down conversion defense (8th, 28.6%), kickoff returns (8th, 24.33) and passing yards allowed (9th, 159.9). UT Martin’s 14.3 points allowed per game set a school record and ranked fourth nationally.
Prior to UT Martin, Hankins was an assistant coach and head strength and conditioning coach at Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Hankins played linebacker at UT Martin from 2001-03 and earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from UT Martin in 2005 and 2012, respectively. He also has a physical education endorsement.
A native of Hohenwald, Tenn., Hankins helped lead Lewis County High School to three regional championships in football while earning all-state honors in both football and baseball. As a senior, he was named a Mr. Football Finalist in 1998.
Hankins is married to the former Christa Webb, a UT Martin softball alum who also received her master’s degree from the university. They have three children, Colt, Case and Jolee Faye.
Full coverage of Coach Hankins and the Memphis Tigers live on 92.9 FM ESPN, Memphis' Sports Station.
