Penn State football and its new, national-landscape hire can officially begin working together.
The program introduced former Ohio State assistant coach Jim Knowles as its new defensive coordinator in a release Monday morning. The stunning hire of the Knowles, regarded as the nation’s top defensive leader, broke on Sunday, almost immediately after Ohio State’s celebratory national championship parade in Columbus.
Penn State and head coach James Franklin pulled off the unexpected with Knowles: They raided their top Big Ten rival, the recently-crowned Buckeyes, to find the latest architect of their superb defense — and reportedly make him the highest-paid assistant coach in college football history.
Knowles, 59, just helped the Buckeyes win their first national championship in a decade, doing so after quickly reshaping and improving their talented but underperforming defense in his three seasons in Columbus.
Knowles boasted the top-ranked defense in college football in most major categories, including points per game (12.2) and yardage allowed (251.1 per game).
Knowles, 59, is a Philadelphia native who graduated from St. Joseph’s Prep. His three-year deal worth an average of $3.1 million per year, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Franklin said this about Knowles in a Monday press release:
“Join me in welcoming Jim Knowles back to his home in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as the Defensive Coordinator of Penn State Football. He’s a strong strategist and excellent defensive mind. He reflects the core values our culture of excellence is built upon. We look forward to having Jim and his family join us in Happy Valley.”
Knowles also provided a statement about his new job in the release. The graduate and former head coach at Cornell University has made his college football name as a standout defensive coordinator at Duke, Oklahoma State and then Ohio State for the past three seasons.
“I am excited for this opportunity to join Penn State Football,” Knowles said. “I would like to thank Coach Franklin, Pat Kraft and President Neeli Bendapudi for this opportunity to be the defensive coordinator at Penn State. I have always had a ton of respect for Coach Franklin and the program he has built here. I look forward to working with this tremendous staff and group of student-athletes and am ready to get to work.”
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