Jim Knowles, the new defensive coordinator for Penn State, has deep roots in Pennsylvania. Though he made a name for himself as a defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State and Ohio State, Knowles is, at his core, a Philadelphian. In a video released by the school on Tuesday, he shared how, as a child, he was a huge fan of the Nittany Lions.
We only had a few channels on TV, so every Sunday morning, we’d watch the Penn State highlights, Knowles said. It was everything to us. That’s what we dreamed of. I didn’t make it as a player, but through hard work and with the help of some great players, I eventually got to a place in my career where I could choose where I wanted to be. Growing up, Penn State was the dream, and now, here I am.
Penn State hired Knowles away from Ohio State just days after the Buckeyes won the national championship. The Nittany Lions will kick off their 2025 season on August 30 against Nevada
