Jim Knowles

Athlete headshots at Ohio Stadium on March 4, 2022.

 Courtesy of Ohio State University.

Oklahoma football target Jim Knowles has become the defensive coordinator at Penn State, as reported by Yahoo Sports' Ross Delenger.

Originally from Philadelphia, Knowles accepts a deal that will reportedly pay $3.1 million over three years to return home. This makes Knowles the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football.

Knowles helped lead Ohio State to winning the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2025. The Buckeyes also boasted the third-highest ranked defense in the country in 2023 and moved up to the top spot during the 2024 season.

Prior to Ohio State, Knowles was an assistant head coach and later defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State from 2018-2021. The Cowboys defense was one of the highest ranked units in the nation in 2021 and led in sacks with 55 on the season.

The Sooners’ search for their third defensive coordinator since Brent Venables took over as head coach came after co-defensive coordinator Zac Alley departed after just one season in Norman to accept a defensive coordinator position at West Virginia.

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