In a surprising move, Ohio State has lost one of the key figures behind its national championship-winning defense to a direct Big Ten rival. Jim Knowles, who served as the Buckeye defensive coordinator, is set to join Penn State in the same role.
Knowles, 59, is reportedly set to earn over $3 million per year in his new position at Penn State, making him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football history. His stellar leadership of Ohio State defense, which ranked as the best in the country, has clearly paid off.
Before his time in Columbus, Knowles spent four years at Oklahoma State, where he built a reputation for orchestrating top-tier defenses. A native of Philadelphia, Knowles played at Cornell and even served as their head coach from 2004 to 2009. Now, after solidifying his legacy at Ohio State, he s headed to a rival program to continue his coaching journey.
