Updated Jan. 27.
Penn State has officially found its next defensive coordinator.
Jim Knowles, fresh off leading Ohio State to a national championship last week in his third year with the program, was officially announced as the Nittany Lions’ new defensive coordinator on Monday. He’s set to replace Tom Allen, who left for the same role at Clemson after just one season on James Franklin’s staff, and become the team’s third defensive coordinator in four years.
Penn State’s Board of Trustees Committee on Equity and Human Resources, which oversees high-paying contracts, met Monday morning and unanimously approved Knowles’ contract. It’s a three-year deal that is worth around $3.1 million per year, Nicole Auerbach of NBC Sports reported on Sunday, that would make him the highest paid assistant coach in college football.
“I am excited for this opportunity to join Penn State Football,” Knowles said in a statement. “I would like to thank Coach Franklin, Pat Kraft and President Neeli Bendapudi for this opportunity to be the defensive coordinator at Penn State. I have always had a ton of respect for Coach Franklin and the program he has built here. I look forward to working with this tremendous staff and group of student-athletes and am ready to get to work.”
Knowles initially appeared to be a long-shot for the candidacy. It was difficult to envision him leaving the Buckeyes, with whom he found great success, and there were also reports of interest from Oklahoma and Notre Dame. But Franklin seemingly didn’t waver in his pursuit of one of college football’s top defensive minds, who is also a native of Philadelphia.
He inherits a defense oozing with talent. Abdul Carter, the team’s All-American defensive end, is off to the NFL, but six defensive starters are set to return for the 2025 season, including star edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton, defensive tackle Zane Durant and safety Zakee Wheatley. Knowles’ 4-2-5 defense fits well with the system Penn State has run over the past few seasons.
Knowles’ Ohio State unit finished this past season as the nation’s top scoring and total defense. Last year, the Buckeyes finished second in each respective statistical category. When he joined Ryan Day’s staff in 2022, Ohio State was coming off a season in which it ranked No. 31 in scoring defense and No. 51 in total defense.
He completely revitalized a defense that was once holding the Buckeyes back, and turned it into the best in college football, leading to a national title this season.
“Join me in welcoming Jim Knowles back to his home in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as the Defensive Coordinator of Penn State Football,” Franklin said. “He’s a strong strategist and excellent defensive mind. He reflects the core values our culture of excellence is built upon. We look forward to having Jim and his family join us in Happy Valley.”
Knowles, 59, also brings 36 years of college coaching experience to the table. He began his career with various assistant gigs at Cornell, Western Michigan and Ole Miss. Knowles then returned to the Big Red, with whom he served as the team’s head coach from 2004 to 2009. He then became the defensive coordinator at Duke, Oklahoma State and finally Ohio State.
Knowles joins Allen and Manny Diaz as the Nittany Lions’ third consecutive defensive coordinator with head coaching experience. He possessed a 26-34 record in his six seasons leading Cornell.
It was with Oklahoma State that Knowles truly defined himself as a top defensive assistant. He inherited a defense that ranked No. 76 in scoring defense in 2017, the year preceding his arrival, to No. 10 in 2021, his final year with the program. The Cowboys also finished that year No. 4 in total defense, and Knowles became one of five finalists for the Broyles Award.
Knowles will soon take possession of one of the most attractive assistant coaching jobs in college football. A pair of Penn State’s previous three defensive coordinators, Diaz and Brent Pry, turned their success with the Nittany Lions into ACC head coaching opportunities. Pry was hired by Virginia Tech in 2022. Diaz was brought in by Duke following the 2023 season.
