Former Ohio State DC Jim Knowles makes strong statement on his relationship with coaches in Columbus
Ohio State suffered the loss of both of their coordinators after they beat Notre Dame in the National Championship. DC Jim Knowles opted to take the same job at Penn State with a big raise. OC Chip Kelly made the jump back to the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders. Knowles was introduced as the […]
Ohio State suffered the loss of both of their coordinators after they beat Notre Dame in the National Championship.
DC Jim Knowles opted to take the same job at Penn State with a big raise. OC Chip Kelly made the jump back to the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Knowles was introduced as the defensive coordinator of the Nittany Lions on Tuesday and opened up about leaving Columbus.
“I’m grateful for my time at Ohio State and the opportunity that coach Day gave me,” Knowles told the media. “We had the No. 1 defense in the country. We won a national championship. [I] had great relationships with the players and with Coach Day and the administration. [I] felt supported.
“You reach a point in your career where you are given opportunities based on past performance, and like I have said, Penn State, for me growing up in the inner-city (Philadelphia, PA), was the epitome of college football when I was a kid.”
Knowles spent three seasons with the Buckeyes and the defense improved each season with his leadership. Ohio State won a National Championship in January in large part because of their defense. Outside of the building, it was a surprise that Knowles left, but it was not as much of a surprise on the inside.
Ohio State and Penn State will play on Nov. 1 in Columbus in what will be a return for Knowles. Of course, Knowles calls the defense from upstairs, so he will only be spotted on television.
Knowles leaves Columbus saying publicly that his relationships with coaches at Ohio State were well. The Buckeyes now have all of their focus on finding his replacement.
