Jordon Hankins - Football Coach

Jordon Hankins

Title:
Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
Email:
jhankin3@utm.edu
Phone:
731-881-7673

Jordon Hankins has been a fixture on staff at UT Martin, serving in various roles over the past 10 seasons. Hankins has served as the team’s defensive coordinator for three seasons while being the program’s associate head coach for nine campaigns.

As a whole, Hankins has held five different positions within the UT Martin staff – including the promotion to defensive coordinator. Hankins served as the team’s linebacker coach from 2013-16 after coaching the running backs from 2010-12. He also oversaw the team’s strength and conditioning efforts from 2010-2014 while serving a stint as the team’s special teams’ coordinator.

Overall, Hankins has overseen 20 players who have earned OVC postseason honors in JaQuez Akins, Tony Bell (twice), Julian Crutchfield, Nick Dance, James Gilleylen (twice), TJ Jefferson, Ben Johnson (twice), Londell Lee, Tae Martin (twice), DaVonte Maura, Jason McNair, Jay Murphy, Austin Pickett, Jackson Redditt, Cody Sandlin and James Satterfield.

The Skyhawks boasted the OVC’s top scoring defense in 2019, allowing an average of 19.5 points per game and just 20 touchdowns in league play. UT Martin also paced the league in pass defense efficiency (111.0), redzone defense (73.0 percent), defensive touchdowns (three), sacks (25) and turnover margin (+5). On the national level, the Skyhawks ranked in the top-25 in blocked kicks (9^th), punt return defense (10^th), blocked punts (11^th), defensive touchdowns (11^th), fewest penalties per game (15^th), fewest penalties (19^th), pass defense efficiency (20^th) and interceptions (25^th).

During the 2018 season, UT Martin's defense proved to be one the stingiest in the league. The Skyhawks ranked 17th nationally in tackles for loss (7.6 per game), 26th in rushing defense (130.5 ypg) and 30th in first down defense (203). In conference play UT Martin ranked second in rushing defense, pass defense (202.1 ypg), total defense (332.4 ypg) and tackles for loss. Meanwhile, they ranked third in third-down conversion defense (35.5 percent), fourth down conversion defense (43.8 percent) and redzone defense (79.3 percent) while sitting fourth in scoring defense (29.0 ppg) and sacks (1.88 per game).

In his first year as defensive coordinator, the Skyhawks saw its defense ranked amongst the nation’s leaders in several statistical categories. The Skyhawks finished the regular season ranked nationally in the top-10 in red zone defense (third, 60.6 percent), scoring defense (fourth, 14.3), third down conversion defense (fifth, 28.7 percent), total defense (sixth, 273.8 ypg), punt return defense (seventh, 3.59), first downs defense (eighth, 168 ypg), team passing efficiency defense (eighth, 104.3), fourth down conversion defense (eighth, 28.6 percent), kickoff returns (eighth, 24.33 ypr) and passing yards allowed (ninth, 159.9 ypg). Not only did the team’s 14.3 points allowed per game rank fourth nationally, it set a new program record.

Before assuming play calling duties on the sideline, Hankins served as the team’s defensive eyes in the sky. Hankins helped a defense which ranked second in the OVC in scoring defense (24.0 ppg), total defense (322.4 ypg), rushing defense (128.3 ypg) and pass defense (194.1 ypg) behind nationally ranked Jacksonville State in 2016. The Skyhawks also ranked second in the league with 17 interceptions and 27 sacks.

UT Martin’s defense also led the OVC in turnovers forced with 28 which ranked seventh nationally while serving as the most turnovers gained since the 2012 season. The Skyhawks especially flexed their muscles against No. 24 Eastern Illinois where they forced seven turnovers in the contest, marking the best single-game performance since 2004. The Skyhawks forced three or more turnovers in four contests – against Cincinnati, Hawai'i, Bacone and Eastern Illinois.

As the team’s special teams’ coordinator, Hankins oversaw a unit which made an impact nationally. UT Martin ranked first nationally in blocked kicks allowed (zero), blocked punts allowed (zero) and second in defensive touchdowns (six). The Skyhawks also ranked fifth nationally in kickoff return defense (16.36 yards per return) while sitting first in the OVC in punt return average (12.3 yards per punt) and kickoff coverage (41.5 yards per kick). All-OVC second team honoree Tae Martin ranked fourth nationally in kickoff return touchdowns with one while OVC All-Newcomer selection Londell Lee ranked fourth nationally in punt returns (13.6) and fifth in punt return touchdowns (one).

Hankins oversaw a special teams’ unit in 2015 which was headlined by the program all-time points leader in Jackson Redditt who earned All-OVC second team honors for his strong season. Redditt made 12-of-17 field goals while converting on 46-of-47 PATs. By tallying 233 career points, Redditt broke the school's long standing career mark set in 1989.

In 2014, Hankins' tutelage guided a pair of All-OVC performers in linebacker Tony Bell and Nick Dance. Bell, UT Martin's all-time sacks (22.5) leader, finished 16th in the final voting for The Sports Network Buck Buchanan Award, annually presented to the best defensive player in the FCS ranks. He completed his highly-decorated career with a school-record 22.5 career sacks and also earned a tryout with the NFL's Tennessee Titans in May 2015. Meanwhile, Dance captured All-Newcomer honors after tallying 56 tackles in his first season as a Skyhawk.

UT Martin's special teams also thrived under Hankins in 2014, as the Skyhawks led the OVC in PAT kicking (.978, 44-of-45) while ranking second in field goals (80 percent, 12-for-15) and punting (36.9 yard net average). UT Martin also ranked in the top-10 nationally in kickoff return defense (16.22 yard net average, ninth) and punt return defense (4.21 yard net average, 10th).

In 2013, Hankins coached two of the best linebackers in the nation in Ben Johnson and Bell. Johnson led the Ohio Valley Conference for the second straight season in tackles (102) while Bell sat atop of the league rankings in sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (15). Both Skyhawks earned All-American honors for their remarkable seasons. Hankins also coached a special teams’ unit that led the OVC in PAT kicking (33-for-33, 1.000) and ranked second in punting (37.4 net yards per punt).

Hankins completed his final year as the team’s running back coach in 2012 after overseeing a stable of talented backs including Tevin Barksdale (116 carries, 539 yards), Jason McNair (112 carries, 460 yards) and DJ McNeil (103 carries, 402 yards). Both McNair (2,081 yards) and Barksdale (1,765 yards) finished their careers in the top-10 in UT Martin in career rushing while McNeil finished fifth in the OVC with nine rushing touchdowns.

Before UT Martin, Hankins served as an assistant coach and the head strength and conditioning coach at Riverdale High School for four years under Ron Aydelott.

Hankins, who played linebacker from 2001-03 for head coaches Sam McCorkle and Matt Griffin, graduated from UT Martin in 2005. Hankins finished his career with 31 solo tackles and 51 total tackles.

A native of Hohenwald, Tenn., Hankins prepped at Lewis County High School where he helped lead the team to three regional football championships. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards his senior year and was named a 1998 Mr. Football Finalist. He earned all-state honors in both football and baseball.

Hankins has both a bachelor's (2005) and master's degree (2012) in education from UT Martin. He also has a physical education endorsement. He is married to the former Christa Webb (a Skyhawk softball alum who also received her master's degree from UT Martin) and has three children, Colt, Case and Jolee Faye.