Penn State announced that former Illinois defensive coordinator Tim Banks has been named its new co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach, rounding out the coaching staff following the departure of Bob Shoop.

“I am excited to have Tim join our Penn State Football family,” James Franklin said in a press release. “Tim and I worked together at Maryland and built a great relationship there. He’s a veteran coach with experience as a Big Ten coordinator and has strong Big Ten and regional recruiting ties. He is a fantastic person and will have a strong impact on our players and our program. We would like to welcome Tim and his wife, Robin, to Happy Valley.”

“I am excited about having an opportunity to work with Coach Franklin and his staff,” Banks said in the release. “James is one of the brightest football minds in the country and it was just an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. Growing up in the Midwest, I saw Penn State play on TV almost every weekend and I know the history and tradition that this program has, so this is very much an honor and a humbling experience to join the Penn State family.”

Through his 20 years as a coach, the 44-year-old has had coaching stops at Maryland (with Franklin), Central Michigan, Cincinnati, and most recently Illinois where he served as defensive coordinator under Tim Beckman. While in charge of the Illini defense, Banks saw mixed results. In his first three seasons, his defenses gave up 32.1, 35.4, and 34.0 points per game, but the defense saw significant improvement this season allowing only 23.3 points per game. Illinois head coach Bill Cubit wanted Banks to return to the program as co-defensive coordinator, but Banks decided to leave and look elsewhere for employment for the 2016 season.

Although Banks may not have a sparkling record running the defense, it’s important to remember that Brent Pry will be in charge of the unit at Penn State. All in all, Banks is an experienced position coach who’s familiar with Franklin and how he operates his program. Welcome to Happy Valley, Coach Banks!