Jim Knowles, who became well-known as the defensive coordinator for Oklahoma State and Ohio State, recently opened up about his deep-rooted connection to Penn State in his first comments since leaving the Buckeyes.
Though Knowles spent his college years playing for Cornell from 1983 to 1986, he has always been a Pennsylvania native and a lifelong Penn State fan.
In a video released by Penn State on Tuesday morning, Knowles shared fond memories of growing up in Philadelphia, where his love for the Nittany Lions was sparked.
We only had about three channels on TV, and Sunday mornings were spent watching the Penn State highlights, Knowles reminisced. It was everything. That’s what we aspired to be. I couldn’t get there as a player, but through a lot of hard work and with the help of many great players, I’ve reached a point in my career where I could choose where I wanted to be. Growing up, Penn State was everything, and this is where I want to be.
Penn State hired Knowles on Sunday, just days after Ohio State’s national championship win over Notre Dame on January 20. Knowles will now serve as the Nittany Lions defensive coordinator.
Penn State is set to open its 2025 season against Nevada on August 30.
