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United Kingdom Penn State hiring DC Jim Knowles from Ohio State, making him ...
Less than a week after Ohio State won the College Football Playoff national championship, the Buckeyes are losing their defensive coordinator.
Jim Knowles is expected to take the same position at Penn State, as first reported by Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger. The two sides are finalizing a three-year deal reportedly worth $3.1 million per season, making him the first college football coordinator to earn an annual salary of at least $3 million.
Ohio State DC Jim Knowles is expected to become the new defensive coordinator at Penn State, sources tell @YahooSports. The two sides are in the process of finalizing an agreement. Big hire for James Franklin.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) January 26, 2025
Knowles, 59, makes the move after three seasons in Columbus. Ohio State led the nation in total defense this season, allowing 251.8 yards per game and an average of 161.1 passing yards. (The Buckeyes ranked third in rushing defense, giving up 89.9 yards per game.) Additionally, Knowles' unit finished tops among FBS teams in scoring defense, averaging 12.2 points allowed.
Ohio State paid Knowles a base salary of $2.2 million this past season, with bonuses based on the Buckeyes' national title run pushing him close to $3 million.
He was offered a new deal that would have made him the highest-paid coordinator in the nation, surpassing the $2.5 million annual salary earned by Michigan DC Wink Martindale and LSU's Blake Baker, according to ESPN. Penn State exceeded Ohio State's offer, approximately $2.6 million annually, by going over $3 million, according to Dellenger.
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Knowles also reportedly showed interest in taking defensive coordinator positions at Oklahoma and Notre Dame.
Penn State had an opening at defensive coordinator after Tom Allen left to take the same position at Clemson. The Nittany Lions also had a strong defense this season, ranking seventh in FBS by allowing 294.8 yards per game and an average of 16.5 points.
Though edge rusher Abdul Carter and safety Kevin Winston Jr. declared for the NFL Draft, Penn State will bring back defensive tackle Zane Durant and safety Zakee Wheatley. On offense, quarterback Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen — both of whom rushed for over 1,000 yards — will return next season.
Ohio State hosts Penn State next season on Nov. 1.
