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Penn State officially pries Jim Knowles away from Ohio State to be its next defensive coordinator

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•01/27/25•

GregPickel

Jim Knowles
USA Today Sports

Penn State has officially hired Jim Knowles away from Ohio State to be its next defensive coordinator. Blue-White Illustrated’s Nate Bauer has reported that he was a top candidate throughout the search. The 59-year-old Philadelphia, Pa., native has long been a target of Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin. He did not land him in 2022 when Knowles left Oklahoma State to join the Buckeyes. But, fresh off a College Football Playoff championship as a member of head coach Ryan Day’s staff, Knowles is coming to the Keystone State for the first time in his coaching career. He replaces Tom Allen, who left the Lions after just one season to become the defensive coordinator at Clemson.

“Defensively Jim Knowles, who is also a PA guy, is doing a really good job with their defense, and has now for the last couple years,” Franklin said earlier this year before the Buckeyes beat the Lions at Beaver Stadium. “Multiple, multiple scheme defense.”

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More on new Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles

Knowles presided over the nation’s No. 1 total defense and scoring defense in 2024. His Buckeyes defenses were stingy, aggressive, and capable making big plays at a moment’s notice. He enters his 38th season as a coach in 2025. After playing at Cornell until 1986, he broke into the business with the Big Red as their defensive line coach in 1988. He would call plays for the first time at Western Michigan in 2001, and later become Cornell’s head coach from 2004-2009. After multiple years as Duke’s defensive coordinator, he moved on to the Cowboys and then the Buckeyes before now picking the lead the Nittany Lions defense.

“Jim actually came and visited us here years ago,” Franklin said before the 2022 OSU-PSU game. “I think he was at Duke at the time. He’s done a really good job going in there and being aggressive, going in there being aggressive in terms of scheme, taking advantage of their personnel.”

According to Eleven Warriors, Knowles made $2.2 million in 2024 after signing a new three-year contract last April. It likely means Penn State will have to pay a buyout to the Buckeyes in addition to whatever it is going to pay its new defensive play caller. Financial details about the hire were not immediately available.

Knowles will be the fourth Penn State defensive coordinator in five seasons. The Lions open the 2025 season when they host Nevada on Aug. 30 at Beaver Stadium.

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