Tag: Jim Knowles

Anthony Poindexter set to stay at Penn State despite hiring of Jim Knowles

Penn State will welcome back one of its top assistant coaches next season.

Nobody would have blamed Penn State safety coach [autotag]Anthony Poindexter[/autotag] if he had decided to leave Penn State for a shot to be a defensive coordinator with another program. After Penn State made a massive move to sign [autotag]Jim Knowles[/autotag] to be the team’s defensive coordinator, Poindexter will reportedly be staying with the program as well.

Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reports Poindexter will remain with the Nittany Lions on a new multi-year contract that will come with a pay increase as Penn State continues to invest more in its assistant coaching staff under James Franklin. That is another massive win for the Penn State coaching staff this offseason.

If Penn State wasn’t going to land Knowles at defensive coordinator, then Poindexter appeared to be the most likely top candidate on the board. He would have made perfect sense as an in-house hire or promotion given how he has developed as a coach, and he has been a popular name for potential coordinator opportunities. An opportunity to be a defensive coordinator could still come his way and it could still one day end up with Poindexter leaving Penn State, but the Nittany Lions continue to splurge for top-notch assistants to help get Penn State to take another step toward legitimately contending for a national title.

According to the report from Dellenger, Franklin was open and honest with Poindexter about the possibility of adding Knowles to the coaching staff, and that led to Poindexter having a conversation with Knowles about the future in Happy Valley.

Per Dellenger’s report;

Franklin and Poindexter held a conversation earlier this past week when it became apparent that Penn State had an opportunity to hire Knowles. “We could really get Jim?” he told Franklin.

Poindexter even discussed the job with Knowles over the past few days, committing to remaining on staff if Knowles were hired to run the defense.

Going into the 2025 season, Penn State will have one of the best coaching staffs Franklin has had in State College with one of the top offensive coordinator hires from a year ago with Andy Kotelnicki and one of the top defensive coordinators from the 2024 season with Knowles. Throw in the return of Poindexter, and things are looking pretty solid for Franklin and his program next fall.

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Penn State DC hire makes USC’s retention of D’Anton Lynn more impressive

Penn State just hired elite defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. USC was ready to keep D’Anton Lynn away from Happy Valley. The Trojans did something right.

Two weeks ago, USC made a big move by extending fast-rising defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn. The move came amid interest in Lynn from Penn State, his alma mater, for its defensive coordinator position.

On Sunday, the Nittany Lions announced their new defensive coordinator, and it was a big name. Penn State was able to poach star DC Jim Knowles away from Big Ten foe Ohio State. Less than a week removed from winning a national championship with the Buckeyes, Knowles will now head to Happy Valley to work in the same role.

The Knowles hire only makes USC’s retention of Lynn look all the more impressive. Clearly, Penn State was willing to pay top dollar to pry a top candidate away from an established powerhouse. The fact that the Trojans were able to hold onto Lynn despite the Nittany Lions’ push further highlights USC’s strong investment in the football program.

As we wrote over the weekend, this also means there are no excuses for head coach Lincoln Riley. The athletic department has spent significant money to retain his highly touted defensive coordinator and hire general manager Chad Bowden away from rival Notre Dame. If the Trojans flop on the field yet again in 2025, Riley will have no one but himself to blame.

Oregon Ducks coach named among top candidates for Ohio State DC vacancy

With Jim Knowles leaving Ohio State for Penn State, Oregon co-DC Chris Hampton is a candidate to replace him in Columbus.

Players aren’t the only ones coming and going this college football offseason. Coaches are hitting the road left and right, and one of, if not the biggest, hiring splashes this offseason just occurred: Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles left Columbus to join the Penn State Nittany Lions for the same position in Happy Valley.

With an unexpected opening on the Ohio State coaching staff, Oregon co-defensive coordinator Chris Hampton is being suggested as a prime candidate for the job.

Sources told On3.com ($) that last year, Hampton received interest from five schools across the ACC and SEC to become a top defensive coordinator. He turned down those potential jobs and returned to Eugene for the 2025 season. The Ducks went on to have a stellar defensive year, ranking No. 15 in the nation in yards allowed per game, with 315.9.

Hiring an Oregon coach away from the Ducks wouldn’t be anything new for the Buckeyes as head coach Ryan Day was able to hire Carlos Locklyn a year ago as their running backs coach, replacing Tony Alford, who in turn left Columbus to go to Michigan.

Hampton might be a candidate for Ohio State, but he is far from being the only possible coach to replace Knowles. Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker, Arkansas DC Travis Williams and Ohio State safeties coach Matt Guerrieri are thought to be up for the job as well.

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The hiring of Jim Knowles leaves no excuses left for Penn State’s James Franklin

Penn State just made DC Jim Knowles the highest-paid coordinator in college football. With him now on the staff, James Franklin has no excuses left not to win a title.

After losing defensive coordinator Tom Allen to the Clemson Tigers, Penn State coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] needed to find a replacement capable of keeping the defense at a championship level. It’s safe to say he accomplished that goal. Ohio State DC [autotag]Jim Knowles[/autotag] helped make the Buckeyes defense one of the best in the country this season, and he will now try and do the same in Happy Valley after signing a three-year contract with Penn State.

The deal is for $3.1 million per season, making him the highest-paid coordinator in college football. Now with Knowles and offensive coordinator [autotag]Andy Kotelnicki[/autotag], Penn State has two highly successful coordinators who should be able to elevate the elite talent that they bring in year after year.

It also leaves no excuses for Franklin to finally get over the hump and bring home Penn State’s first National Championship since 1986. They already were one game away from playing for a title this season and will retain most of their key players for 2025. Quarterback [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag], running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, and edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton all chose to return despite NFL interest.

That combined with plenty of young players ready to step into bigger roles, and Franklin knows the time is now to change the perception of his career in Happy Valley. Big games have been his kryptonite, particularly against conference opponents. Prying the coordinator away from perhaps his biggest nemesis was a bold and potentially key move that will help alleviate that issue.

Knowles’ defense was admittedly not always great in tough games, but their playoff run and overall season this year highlighted what he is capable of with the right talent. Few teams possess the amount of athletes that Penn State routinely has waiting for their opportunity to play, so talent won’t be an issue.

Adding a coach fresh off of winning a National Championship is also never a bad thing, as he got to experience what it’s like to make it through the new playoff format. As smart of a move as it seems on the surface, however, Franklin once again has zero excuses left not to win the biggest games of the year. I am sure both teams are even more fired up to face each other this November.

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One of Notre Dame’s top defensive coordinator option picks Penn State

The Irish’s search of their new DC continues

The rumors were that Notre Dame football was one of the schools defensive coordinator [autotag]Jim Knowles[/autotag] was considering leaving Ohio State for.

We knew he would cost a pretty penny, but that is moot now. Knowles is leaving the Buckeyes for Penn State according to a report by 247Sports Matt Zenitz.

While Notre Dame was a contender, it wasn’t really ever seen as his top choice. It was more likely he was going to either stay in Columbus or leave for his home state power program (the Nittany Lions).

Coach Marcus Freeman did the right thing by inquiring about Knowles, but now both participants in the College Football Playoff Championship game are without a defensive coordinator.

It will be interesting how each of these two teams go about trying to fill the position. They could be battling for the remaining top candidates.

Jan. 20, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles celebrates after winning against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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Defensive Coordinator target Jim Knowles heading to Penn State per Report

The Oklahoma Sooners are still looking for their next defensive coordinator as Jim Knowles is reportedly heading to Penn State.

The Oklahoma Sooners were rumored to be in discussions with Ohio State defensive coordinator [autotag]Jim Knowles[/autotag] to replace [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag], who departed for West Virginia. Well, in a turn of events, it looks like Knowles is staying in the Big Ten and joining James Franklin and the Penn State Nittany Lions.

According to KREF radio host and Oklahoma radio play-by-play voice Toby Rowland, the Nittany Lions are set to make Knowles the highest-paid coordinator in college football. ESPN’s Pete Thamel also confirmed Rowland’s report.

“Reliable sources confirm that barring last-second change of heart, Jim Knowles is headed to Penn State,” Rowland said on X, formerly known as Twitter. “He has notified James Franklin that he’ll accept their offer of well over $3 million to be highest-paid coordinator in college football history. Knowles is from Philly.”

Knowles helped Ohio State have the No. 1 scoring defense in the nation in 2024. In 2023, the Buckeyes finished No. 2 in the nation in scoring defense.

Oklahoma will now pivot in their defensive coordinator search. Brent Venables could take over playcalling duties for the Sooners in what could be a make-or-break season for the Sooners head coach.

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Jim Knowles reportedly leaving Ohio State for Big Ten rival

Welp. Here we go.

With success comes pillaging and the Ohio State football program is working to fend off the vultures of college football after winning the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship. There have been reports of tampering with OSU’s wide receivers and NIL money, and some serious noise surrounding teams trying to lure defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from the banks of the Olentangy.

Now, it appears as though Knowles may indeed be set to leave town and head over to Big Ten rival Penn State as its new defensive coordinator, and it’s not just one source, but multiple outlets reporting it. The seems to be in the final stages of negotiating a contract north of $3 million dollars. Knowles was already the third-highest paid defensive coordinator in the country with Ohio State, making $2.2 million a year and was in line for a significant bump to be the highest paid according to a report from the Columbus Dispatch.

The move is a curious one as Knowles is at the top of the defensive coordinator food chain in Columbus, but he is a Pennsylvania native. Reports were also afoot that he was entertaining offers from Oklahoma and Notre Dame.

So, the first domino appear to have fallen with the staff unless Knowles has a change of heart, and it’ll be interesting to see who Ohio State targets for the next defensive coordinator.

Stay tuned as we try to read the Buckeye leaves on this one going forward.

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Penn State finalizing contract with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, per reports

Penn State is closing a deal to bring Jim Knowles over from Ohio State to lead the defense.

Penn State’s search for a new defensive coordinator appears to be coming to a close. On Sunday afternoon, multiple reports surfaced suggesting Penn State is finalizing the contract with Ohio State defensive coordinator [autotag]Jim Knowles[/autotag] to continue in the same position with the Nittany Lions, marking a massive coaching staff move for the program and head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] and taking a key piece away from a national championship program.

According to a report from Pete Thamel of ESPN, via social media, Penn State will pay Knowles an average of $3.1 million over the next three seasons. The news of Knowles heading to Penn State came on the same day Ohio State was celebrating its national championship in Ohio Stadium. Head coach Ryan Day acknowledged Knowles’s contributions, who was absent from the ceremony.

Knowles is coming off a national championship run with Ohio State, which included a victory over Penn State in the regular season in which the Penn State offense was flustered on multiple occasions in terrific scoring opportunities. Ohio State’s defense ranked first in the nation in total defense by averaging 254.6 yards per game allowed. Ohio State also led the nation in scoring defense by allowing just 12.9 points per game during the 2024 season.

Penn State’s defensive numbers have fared quite well with top-10 numbers in total defense and scoring defense, but the addition of Knowles is a home run hire for a program in need of a defensive coordinator.

Knowles will be filling the vacancy left by Tom Allen, a former head coach of Indiana who spent one year leading the Penn State defense. Allen accepted a job offer from Clemson to be the defensive coordinator for the defending ACC champions.

Knowles is a Philadelphia native and has made stops as defensive coordinator with Western Michigan, Duke, and Oklahoma State prior to his three seasons with Ohio State.

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Rivalry news: Ohio State loses defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to Big Ten rival

He never beat Michigan football in his time in Columbus. #GoBlue

After Michigan football ran, ran again, and ran some more against rival Ohio State in 2021, Ryan Day recognized that he needed to make something of a drastic change. Out was longtime OSU staffer Kerry Coombs as the defensive coordinator, and in was Oklahoma State DC Jim Knowles.

Knowles certainly transformed the Buckeye defense, but it didn’t equate to wins against Michigan. He allowed 45 points in 2022, 30 points in 2023, and 13 points in 2024 to the Wolverines. However, he does depart Columbus as a national championship-winning defensive coordinator.

After three years with the Buckeyes, Knowles is leaving for Penn State, a team that OSU plays perennially, but that Michigan avoids for one more season in 2025.

With Knowles gone, Ohio State will be in search for a new defensive mind that can continue to have the Buckeyes at or near the top of the defensive rankings. This upcoming season, OSU will not only have a new defensive coordinator, but Michigan will have a new offense under new coordinator Chip Lindsey.

Notre Dame is going to pony up if they want Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator

The Irish will have to open their pocketbooks to sign Knowles

With Notre Dame football still looking to find a replacement for defensive coordinator Al Golden, coach [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] isn’t leaving any stones unturned.

The Irish have been linked to Ohio State DC [autotag]Jim Knowles[/autotag], and the reports are he will wait until after the national championship celebration to decide what is next.

He is one of the top defensive minds in college football. We saw the Buckeyes do a pretty good job stopping the Irish offense just under a week ago.

Knowles could end up leaving Columbus, but it will not be because the Buckeyes didn’t offer a competitive salary. According to On3’s Andy Staples, Ohio State has offered him a contract that would make him the highest paid defensive coordinator in the nation.

Staples goes on to write that regardless of which school Knowles picks he will still end up being the highest paid in the sport. Oklahoma, Penn State, the Irish and staying with the Buckeyes are his reported options.

Jan. 20, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles celebrates after winning against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the national championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Brett Davis-Imagn Images

We will know soon what Knowles decision is, and then what Freeman needs to do to find Golden’s replacement.

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