Penn State Football, Jim Knowles Penn State Nittany Lions defensive coordinator Jim Knowles (Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images)

Jim Knowles Reveals How Penn State Closed Offseason’s Biggest Hire

Originally posted on Nittany Central | By Ian Purdy | Last updated May 12, 2025 6:35 PM ET

This offseason, Penn State Football sent shockwaves through the College Football world.

On January 26th, Penn State hired defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. Knowles was previously the defensive mastermind who led Ohio State to a National Championship, just six days prior to him being hired by head coach James Franklin and the Nittany Lions.

In a recent interview with Adam Brenneman, Knowles described how Penn State closed on him.

“This is where I wanted to be. Penn State was the place for me.” Jim Knowles told former Nittany Lion, Adam Brenneman. “You have these dreams, when you get into the profession. Not only reaching the highest level, but being able to coach at the school that you were a fan of when you were a young boy.”

Knowles is a Philly guy. He grew up there and attended St. Joe’s Prep for his high school years.

“Watching it on TV, and just thinking that Penn State was everything great about College Football” Knowles said. “And aspiring to that level and never reaching it as a player, and then being able to finally do it as a coach. It’s a big deal to me. It represented a lot of hard work.”

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Jim Knowles Brings Wealth of Experience to Penn State Football

Knowles spend time with Cornell, Oklahoma State, Ohio State, and others before becoming a coach at Penn State.

“I don’t tend to look back, but there’s a sense of all the hours you put in and all the time you put in that it was worth it. Because you now get to the point, have had some success, where you [can] choose a little bit where you want to be. Rather than just going to the next best available job.” Knowles continued. “You get older, have a little bit of a resume and say ‘this is where I want to be’, and Penn State was that for me.”

Knowles and the Nittany Lion defense will have their first test on August 31st when Nevada comes to Happy Valley.