Jordon Hankins

Biography

Jordon Hankins is in his first year as the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at East Carolina, a position he officially began on Jan. 1, 2026. Hankins’ appointment to the Pirates’ staff ends a five-year at the University of Memphis where he served as the defensive coordinator (2024-25), linebackers coach (2021-25) and assistant special team coordinator (2021-23). This past season (2025), the Tigers posted an 8-5 overall record and appeared in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. Memphis’ defense ranked among the FBS leaders (Top 50) in six defensive categories including red zone defense (30th/78.4 pct.), defensive touchdowns scored (33rd/2), interceptions (41st/12), rushing defense (42nd/132.1 ypg), turnovers gained (43rd/19) and fourth down conversion defense (48th/50.0 pct.). For members of his defensive unit earned All-American Conference honors in Sam Brumfield (LB/first team), William Whitlow Jr. (DL/first team), Omarion Cooper (CB/second team) and Pooda Walker (DL/third team). The 2024 season saw remarkable improvement from the year before as Memphis led the nation with 15 fumble recoveries and was tied for second in the country with a +18-turnover ratio. Overall, Memphis forced 26 turnovers on the season – six more than the 2023 season. The biggest improvement among many was the Tigers’ rushing defense, which allowed 156.5 yards per game in 2023 and 2,034 total to rank No. 77 in FBS. Memphis ranked No. 15 in the nation allowing just 111.8 yards per game on th