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Does Jim Knowles have head coaching aspirations? The new Penn State defensive coordinator's answer may surprise you

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•about 9 hours•

GregPickel

Jim Knowles Penn State Football On3
Penn State pushed its chips in for new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, whom the team lured away from top rival, Ohio State. (Photo: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK)

STATE COLLEGE — Jim Knowles will enter his 38th season as a college coach in 2025. Penn State will be the seventh different school he’s worked at and the fifth different place he’s been a defensive coordinator. The 59-year-old Philadelphia native has been a head coach once, at his alma mater, Cornell, from 2004-2009. He did not appear interested in returning to the top seat ever since. But, one always wonders if a longtime coordinator ever wants to get back in that chair again. And, with the Nittany Lions dealing with plenty of turnover recently with its defensive coordinator position, it’s also fair to wonder if Knowles might be here awhile or if he wants to use this job as a potential stepping stone to a head coaching gig again.

All of those curiosities led to Tuesday, when Knowles was officially introduced as the newest member of James Franklin’s staff. He was asked if he has head coaching aspirations. And, his answer might surprise you.

“I have one aspiration,” Knowles said. “I’m at that point in my career where you focus solely on the job at hand. And my aspiration is to help Penn State win the national championship, and be the number one defense in the country. That’s not just talk. That’s the truth. I don’t have any aspirations beyond that.”

Coaches often say things like that, but it was easy to believe Knowles. Asked later why Penn State and why now, his answer was equally telling about his future goals.

More: Will Jim Knowles call the Penn State defense from the coaches box or the field?

“I see [Penn State] as so close. So close, right? I think I can help,” Knowles said. “I think I can be of service. Once you get past being young and thinking your going to be the head coach of the Green Bay Packers, you move forward in your career, and you really start thinking about, how can I be of service? Where can I add to a great team and be a part of a great team?

“And, this is the place, because everything here is so close to winning it all. And I’m hopeful I can help get it there.”

Penn State and its fans would like that, too. The Lions are among the top contenders to win this year’s College Football Playoff after making it to the semifinals in 2024. Franklin inarguably got the best option he could to replace Tom Allen. Knowles now teams with fellow coordinators Andy Kotelnicki and Justin Lustig. A number of top players return, too.

“You reach a point in your career where you’re given opportunities based on past performance,” Knowles said. “And as I said, Penn State, for me, growing up in inner-city Philly was the epitome of football when I was a kid. It’s really where I want to be to continue my career and bring any expertise that I can to the organization.”

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