New Penn State DC Jim Knowles reveals why he deserted Ohio State for lateral position
Losing top assistant coaches is nothing new for winning programs, but the Ohio State Buckeyes were dealt an odd hand right after pulling off a historic College Football Playoff run. Instead of watching defensive coordinator Jim Knowles get a promotion, the 59-year-old took a lateral job with Penn State for a little more money. At […]
Losing top assistant coaches is nothing new for winning programs, but the Ohio State Buckeyes were dealt an odd hand right after pulling off a historic College Football Playoff run. Instead of watching defensive coordinator Jim Knowles get a promotion, the 59-year-old took a lateral job with Penn State for a little more money.
At his introductory press conference on Tuesday as Penn State's defensive coordinator, Knowles expressed gratitude for his experience with Ryan Day and the Buckeyes.
However, he explained that his decision to join the Nittany Lions was driven by a childhood aspiration to play for Penn State while growing up in Philadelphia.
“I'm grateful for my time at Ohio State and the opportunity that Coach Day gave me. We had the No. 1 defense in the country. We won a national championship. Had great relationships with the players and with Coach Day and the administration, felt supported,” Knowles said. “You reach a point in your career where you’re given opportunities based on past performance, and Penn State, for me, growing up in inner-city Philly, was the epitome of college football when I was a kid. I was never talented enough to make it to Penn State as a player, but given the opportunity to do it now as a coach, it's really where I want to be to continue my career and bring any expertise that I can to the organization.”
Knowles was not directly questioned regarding CBS Sports’ report from Monday, which suggested that his choice to depart from Ohio State was influenced by Day requesting him to modify his defensive strategies after Ohio State's midseason defeat to Oregon. While Knowles would likely deflect anyway, Ryan Day had to push back when asked about some staff issues throughout the season between Larry Johnson and Knowles.
The veteran defensive line coach for the Buckeyes had more control than most assistants, as the team continued to deploy four-man fronts than what Knowles did at his previous job, Oklahoma State.
Day previously said Knowles and Johnson are "on the same page." He said the three have discussed handling the unit, but there's not some massive chasm about what each party wants. If this is the case, then it's more of a talent issue and lack of scheme aggressiveness, causing inconsistent pressure on the quarterback.
Day did acknowledge that Ohio State needs to stop relying on a straight four-man rush and that changes are coming. Ohio State has been stale for too long, and the combination of Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau is inconsistent, at best.
When inquired about his ambitions to become a head coach, Knowles expressed that his sole goal was to guide Penn State's defense to match the success of Ohio State's defense from the previous season, emphasizing his belief that the Nittany Lions are “very close” to achieving national championship status.
“My aspiration is to help Penn State win the national championship and be the No. 1 defense in the country, and that’s really all I’m focused on,” Knowles said. “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.”
It's hard to fault Knowles for wanting to get a little closer to home. Happy Valley is about half the distance to Philadelphia compared to Columbus. The strange part is how Knowles left after winning a title and before Caleb Downs' collegiate eligibility is up.
That said, with a ring on his finger and a fat new contract, Knowles seems like the laidback type who knows what he wants. The Buckeyes will move on with a younger option who recruits, and the Nittany Lions will go all-in on 2025.
