In a move that shocked college football fans, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles — fresh off helping Ohio State win a national championship — decided to leave the Buckeyes and take the same job with the Penn State Nittany Lions.
While many expected Knowles to stay in Columbus or take a different high-profile role, he surprised everyone by heading to Happy Valley.
Jim Knowles Believes He Can Help Penn State Win a National Championship
Jim Knowles explained his decision to join Penn State with a clear and straightforward mindset.
“I think I can help. I think I can be of service,” Knowles explained. “Once you get past thinking you’re going to be the head coach of the Green Bay Packers as you move forward in your career, 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 that I can help get it there.”
Knowles wasn’t interested in taking on a rebuilding project. Instead, he saw Penn State as a program that was already close to competing for a national championship. He wanted to be part of a winning team, not as a savior but as someone who could help push the Nittany Lions to the next level.
Penn State — recognizing his abilities and his success at Ohio State — made a significant move to hire him. Within a week of Knowles helping the Buckeyes win the national championship, the Nittany Lions announced the hire, making him the highest-paid assistant coach in college football.
His introduction to the media was a clear signal that the program has big plans for him.
“My aspiration is to help Penn State win the national championship and be the No. 1 defense in the country,” Knowles proclaimed.
His goal was clear from the start: help the Nittany Lions reach the pinnacle of college football.
Knowles, who is 59 years old, has a long and successful career as a defensive coach. However, his coaching path hasn’t been one of constant movement. I
In Knowles’ 37 years of coaching, he has only worked at six schools, with his stint at Mississippi in 2003 being the only one-year stop. He then spent several years at other programs, including Duke, Oklahoma State, and Ohio State, before joining Penn State.
He explained that the relationship with head coach James Franklin and the overall culture at Penn State were key factors in his decision.
“I’ve talked to all of them, and it comes through like, ‘Hey, we just want what’s best for Penn State, and we want what’s best for our players,'” Knowles said.
The Penn State defensive staff, which includes key figures like co-defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter and associate head coach Terry Smith, has been successful and operates with a team-first mentality.
Knowles appreciated the low-ego environment that Franklin has fostered, allowing for open communication and collaboration within the coaching staff.
Knowles also recognized Franklin’s commitment to defense. Despite being an offensive-minded coach, Franklin has always emphasized the importance of a strong defense. He felt that Penn State’s overall approach would allow him to thrive and continue his work of building championship-level defenses.
Penn State’s Championship Aspirations and Jim Knowles’ Impact
Knowles arrived at a Penn State Nittany Lions program that was already on the rise. The team finished the 2023 season with a school-record 13 wins and made their first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff.
Although they came up short of a national title, Penn State proved they were a legitimate contender. The team’s consistent success under Franklin, including three straight seasons of 10 or more wins, set the stage for the program to make a leap and finally win a national championship.
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Under Knowles’ guidance, the Buckeyes had one of the best defenses in the country in 2023, ranking No. 1 in both scoring defense and total defense. Ohio State allowed just 12.9 points per game and 254.6 yards per game. Penn State’s defense had also been elite but had not quite reached the same level of dominance as Ohio State’s under Knowles.
Penn State’s defense, however, was already one of the best in the nation. The Nittany Lions ranked highly in both scoring defense and total defense, but Knowles was brought in to make them even better. The lucrative contract, which pays Knowles more than $3 million annually, reinforced the high expectations that the program had for him.
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