Jim Knowles introductory press conference: Live updates
Penn State football made a splash on the national college football landscape when it filled its vacant defensive coordinator position last week. Formally approved following a two-week search, the Nittany Lions pulled their next defensive architect from the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes with the hiring of Jim Knowles.
Tuesday afternoon, he’s meeting with reporters for the first time at Penn State.
What led him to the decision to part ways with Ohio State? What was it about the Nittany Lions that proved so appealing? And what does the future hold in store for a Penn State defense that has been among the country’s best?
Follow our live updates from Knowles’ introductory press conference, here:
Live updates: Jim Knowles introductory press conference
(Press conference with Jim Knowles ended at 12:31 p.m.)
On being here now and why it’s important:
02/04/2025 11:31:08 AMSees it as so close. Thinks he can help. Can be of service. Once you get past being young and thinking you’ll be the head coach of the Green Bay Packers, when you move forward in your career you want to be of service, adding to and being part of a great team, and this is the place. Everything here is so close to winning it all and is hopeful that he can help get it there.
On how process impacted by carryover assistants:
02/04/2025 11:29:56 AMMakes his life a lot easier. Veteran coaches who have been successful but are low ego guys. Talked to all of them and it comes through. Want what’s best for Penn State and players. That allows for a free exchange of ideas where everyone is free to say what they want, what works and didn’t. Makes whole process easier with the guys Coach Franklin has here. They love the school and want to do what’s best.
Relationship with Penn State growing up:
02/04/2025 11:28:36 AMIt was all in his mind, just a dream. Never even dreamed of going to a game. Didn’t have that kind of money or resources as a family. State College might as well have been in California. But would watch Sunday morning programs with Coach Paterno’s brother. But had these coaches who loved Penn State. And they would come right from work, so they’d roll their pants up the way Coach Paterno would. Knew the term Linebacker U because of them. It was always more of just a dream than anything he could have a real relationship with.
Success against Penn State and sharing that with Andy:
02/04/2025 11:26:19 AMAndy Kotelnicki has been great. Always had great respect for him. Talking already and exchanging ideas and will continue that. The best way to make team better and you feel that at Penn State, that they are a team. Will talk even more. Jimmies and Joes vs. Xs and Os, hasn’t heard that in a while, but that’s what people say. It’s a constant balance. Doesn’t ever believe you can just line guys up and be simple and out-athlete you. That doesn’t give players best chance for success. But it is a balance of doing enough to keep opponent off balance, while not hindering ability of guys to play fast. Those are the things that keep him up at night. If guys are thinking too much, he’s not doing a good job. Will take it step by step.
Plan for the next month:
02/04/2025 11:23:07 AMShoutout to the assistants. Terry, Deion, Dex, Dan. To have defenses this good, it means position assistants are doing a great job. It’s about sitting down step by step, and will do it differently here, looking at things done in the past, because there has been success. Doesn’t want to come in and just say what he wants to do. Not going to be like that here. So look step by step at what they can retain and start to teach guys his past film. But will go through a process of meshing the two of them. It’s an excruciating process but what he loves to do. Want as much carry over as possible so transition is as quick as possible.
Jack posiiton:
02/04/2025 11:20:34 AMRemains to be seen. Have to dive into player personnel and what they do well. Experimented with it at Ohio State because it was huge at Oklahoma State with players who really fit it. Big at Duke too. And way back to Western Michigan. Learned through that whole process that need to evaluate first who the players are here and what they do well. Not about what he knows. It’s about what works best for Penn State. So could be implemented. But, it’s always in his head and always has that as an answer. But gotta figure out if it fits first here.
It’s a guy who is really an eraser, who he can put in different places based on the game plan. It’s a great package, particularly if you’re undersized. You can find someone in the hallway who is not a DB, LB, DL, but he’s just a helluva football player. It’s for those guys who don’t fit the standard of any one position. Just guys who are great players. You can direct them to do what you want. It’s fun, but have to see if it fits best here.
Coaching aspirations/coaching game location:
02/04/2025 11:17:38 AMAt the point in the career where you focus solely on the job at hand. Aspiration is to help Penn State win the national championship and be the No. 1 defense in the country. That’s not just talk. That’s just the truth. No aspiration beyond that.
Spends most of time coaching in press box. Gives best vision on the action. With ipads and communication with players, can still be very connected from there. A lot more time to think up there. Have worked hard on being emotional and challenging in practice and coaching with an edge in practice. But in a game, that’s not his job. Best place to be in order to think, remain calm and stay a couple of plays and series ahead is in the press box. That’s what he’s found for himself. If there is a camera on him, won’t see him reacting to a bad play or even a great play. Try to stay centered. Job is to not cheer or react or yell. No one will hear him anyway up there. Job is to think and be composed and press box is best place to do that.
James Franklin history/through the process:
02/04/2025 11:14:53 AMKnew each other. Had tremendous respect for what he’s accomplished through his career. Openly discussed that he has built a culture here that has really emphasized defense. People look at him as offensive guy, but you look at his history, and they have really good defenses here. Have been through different coordinators, but have always had good defense. Goes into how you structure practice plan, how you do offense, tempo of offense. Have been in situations where offense just trying to score. He hasn’t structured it like that here. He has made it conducive to be successful on defense. The proof is in the numbers. Have had various coordinators and defense has been pretty good.
On connection with players:
02/04/2025 11:12:50 AMPlayers have to trust you. Have to know you care about their personal situations and trust that you have their best interests at heart. You build that. It doesn’t come right away. Can’t do it all the time by being friend all the time. Have to be the one pushing discipline and holding them accountable. But once they know that you’re accountable, those situations come up where he makes a mistake or something that isn’t their fault happens, it’s important for him to take responsibility. That builds a lot of credibility and trust. When times get tough, they know you’re going to fix things, put them in the right positions. Wants to make sure they know they’ll have every chance to succeed and they trust that.
On characteristics of being a good Philly guy and how background has shaped his football life:
02/04/2025 11:10:47 AMYou gotta be tough. If you’re from Philly you gotta be tough. Have a thick skin. Willing to take coaching, hard coaching. Growing up, the guys he had as coaches, they were all cops, firemen, maintenance men, and they were hard on you, challenging to you. Preached discipline and hard-nosed football. You have to be, growing up in Philly under those guys, wiling to accept criticism and respond with toughness. Even with the players, all for guys who challenge the coaches. Why they’re doing this, what’s the purpose. That back and forth you get growing up there willing to speak mind. Accept it when make a mistake but challenge it when you have a different opinion. You learn to not take things personally. Teachers growing up were trying to make you better, and he coaches it that way. Tough love.
On Pat Kraft:
02/04/2025 11:08:03 AMDid not during the process have that much contact with Pat because it all went through Coach Franklin. But always got the sense that he was in the background, willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen. Always came through Coach Franklin that he has tremendous support from AD, president. You felt the alignment in the convesations with Coach Franklin. But didn’t deal with Pat much in the process.
On James Franklin and Pat Kraft through hiring process:
02/04/2025 11:06:55 AMIncredibly supportive and welcoming. Have felt that in short time here. Very welcoming. Not a cliche. You feel the family, the we are Penn State, that it means something to everybody. They want to win at the highest level and they’re committed to doing whatever it takes. It’s been an easy transition.
On characteristics of a Jim Knowles defense:
02/04/2025 11:05:48 AMThe people who watch it and report on it, media and everyone has become so much more knowledgable, the first thing you’ll see is having answers. Making sure they have answers for the players to be able to succeed, to be put in the right positions. You can see where there is a gaping hole or busted coverage. Never blame players for that. If something happens negatively, players know that’s his responsibility. Anyone watching will see guys are in the right places and they’re not being exposed to the opponent offensive coordinator or quarterback. There is enough disguise built into the defense so that opponent doesn’t know exactly what they’re in. Gives players best chance to succeed.
On why this was the time to leave Ohio State for another job:
02/04/2025 11:03:32 AMGrateful for Ohio State time and opportunity Coach Day gave him. Had No. 1 defense in the country, won a national championship, had great relationships with players, coach Day, and administration. You reach a point in career where you get opportunities based on past performances. Penn State, for him, growing up in inner city Philly was epitome of college football as a kid. Was never talented enough to make it as a player, but given opportunity as a coach, it’s really where he wants to continue his career and bring expertise to the organization.
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