Football Penn State set to hire Ohio State DC Jim Knowles as Defensive Coordinator
- Thread starter Richie O
- Start date
The longer this goes on, the better for PSU. Why doesn’t he just announce he’s back? It’s that easy.
How we feeling this AM?
How we feeling this AM?
Somebody made a good point. TOSU is having a natty parade. Any announcement he is leaving will happen after that parade
3.0. 3.2. 3.4. I mean seriously those numbers are not going to change a decision. Plus he’s one and done heading for a head coaching job. He’s not worth it. There are plenty of capable people he just had great players.
It's a celebration in the Horseshoe, not a parade, but I think his appearance or non appearance at the event will be an indicator of where things stand if nothing is announced beforehand.
His stock as a future HC is at an all time high right now. Why would he come to PSU as a one and done? Would he not just go be a HC this off season?
I agree but some people don't want to be HC's. HC's have way too much administration and PR stuff to do. If you can make $3 and just do Xs and 0s that could be a great life. If the D doesn't perform you'll take some heat but nothing like the HC does. Look at Allen. The D under performed in several occasions but he didn't get heat like CJF did. (30 against USC, 45 Oregon, 27 ND).
One of the issues with Knowles is that he would not only be an "add" to PSU's staff but a takeaway from tOSU so he has nearly double the value.
If he's only looking here for money, he's not coming. OSU will just counter with more. https://nittanysportsnow.com/2025/01/report-ohio-state-prepared-to-make-jim-knowles-richest-dc/
But it's not a bad strategy to force OSU to chew up more $, even if he stays in place
Depending on Plan B...or Plan D...whatever we're on now. If it's Poindexter then we failed miserably
Doesn't matter....its a risk that isn't necessary for a contender heading into next season. If he fields a top 10 defense maybe Knowles had the best defense in country. Maybe Lynn does. You don’t bring everyone back to take a chance on Poindexter. If we thought he should be the DC we wouldn't be out there looking for better options.
Unfortunately for him, by the time OSU was done with their season all the decent HC openings were filled. There's still a chance someone else leaves or is fired but the timing isn't great.
R
Terry Pegula is involved in this hire. This is not always the case obviously.
Its 3.5 vs 2.8. Could absolutely be a part of the decision.
I share those concerns. At least we got two years out of Manny. I would at least want two years out of the next DC, not another one and done. Unfortunately, 2-3 years is what it is nowadays for coordinators at top 10 programs. How many coordinators Alabama went through in their run via the Nick Saban coach rehabilitation program! I also agree it is tough to evaluate Knowles considering the caliber of players at OSU. And those players are not necessarily there because of the DC, but because of the $$. We are putting so much effort, money, and importantly time into this process that if we strike out with Knowles, it is egg on the face of Franklin. I do understand, though, that this is probably the best year out of the next several to win a Natty here so Franklin and the athletic department need to swing for the fences with this hire.
He could have interviewed for a job during the post season like AK did.
MacNit2.0 deserves better than almost making the Natty game and having one of the most successful college football programs in the nation, after being resurrected from the dead.
Also have to wonder how correct that Oregon figure is. I've seen - on several occasions - that they've actually outspent everyone in this past season. Uncle Phil wants an NC bad before he passes away
True. There's also the Beau Pribula option too. Although I don't think there's any great option when your team has a chance to win a championship.
Not much to take away from the event at OSU, most of the coaching staff wasn't there. To me one one of the more telling clues was when Day, while naming the staff, made a "star in the making: comment about safeties coach Matt Guerrieri. Both him and Assoc. HC, secondary and CB coach Tim Walton are excellent coaches and top recruiters with DC experience if OSU were to stay in house. Most OSU fans would be fine with either one moving in to the DC role. My gut says Knowles is gone.
Some of you better go back and delete your posts from this thread before they’re kept a receipts.
“Disaster” “plan c or d” “botched search”
Franklin just pulled the DC of the #1 defense from the national championship team. A conference rival at that.
Let’s go make a run at the natty, all the chips are on the table now. Hell yes.
“Disaster” “plan c or d” “botched search”
Franklin just pulled the DC of the #1 defense from the national championship team. A conference rival at that.
Let’s go make a run at the natty, all the chips are on the table now. Hell yes.
People I know close to OSU saying he's leaving, and that OSU didn't offer to match or exceed Penn State's offer. They wanted to keep Knowles, but not THAT badly to offer more than $3.1 million. They have a few options lined up.
Knowles didn't fit well given the scheme, and Day ultimately didn't force a resolution to the Knowles-LJ feud it seems.
Knowles didn't fit well given the scheme, and Day ultimately didn't force a resolution to the Knowles-LJ feud it seems.
Definitely a great hire.
With the caveat that at every job Knowles has been at, it has taken him a few years for his players to really grasp and execute his system. Every OSU fan will tell you that while they saw minor improvements in year one, it wasn't until year two until the defense looked up to the talent level. And frankly not until after that Oregon game this year until they became elite. It was Saban that called Knowles' system "antiquated" after that Oregon game. His system works......but it takes time.
He'll be good for us, but I'm not sure he'll be enormously impactful for the 2025 season.
Knowles is a very good get for you all. My quick thoughts:
His 4-2-5 system is fantastic once it's rolling. But it's a very complicated system and takes awhile. He really values the Jack edge rusher position, something Larry Johnson didn't -- and that was the source of their tension. Ryan Day gave Johnson creative control of the DL, because there was a very real threat of Johnson retiring. Day wanted to keep JTT, Sawyer, and company for one more year so he rode with Larry. And Knowles had enough. We got a natty out of it, and both Larry and Knowles deserve credit for it. But they weren't going to coexist forever.
Knowles is a schematic guru. But he doesn't recruit well. AT ALL. He botched some big time LB recruitments for us last year, and basically made clear that he prefers to be the Xs and Os guru and not a recruiter.
My big critique of Knowles the past few years is that until the second half of this season, we were a very reactive defense. Didn't have a lot of proactive aggression. Knowles is fantastic at limiting big plays and keeping the ball in front, but we didn't really attack much. That changed after the Oregon loss, and the defense you saw from November onward was totally different. Part of that was Day, but Knowles obviously deserves credit.
His 4-2-5 system is fantastic once it's rolling. But it's a very complicated system and takes awhile. He really values the Jack edge rusher position, something Larry Johnson didn't -- and that was the source of their tension. Ryan Day gave Johnson creative control of the DL, because there was a very real threat of Johnson retiring. Day wanted to keep JTT, Sawyer, and company for one more year so he rode with Larry. And Knowles had enough. We got a natty out of it, and both Larry and Knowles deserve credit for it. But they weren't going to coexist forever.
Knowles is a schematic guru. But he doesn't recruit well. AT ALL. He botched some big time LB recruitments for us last year, and basically made clear that he prefers to be the Xs and Os guru and not a recruiter.
My big critique of Knowles the past few years is that until the second half of this season, we were a very reactive defense. Didn't have a lot of proactive aggression. Knowles is fantastic at limiting big plays and keeping the ball in front, but we didn't really attack much. That changed after the Oregon loss, and the defense you saw from November onward was totally different. Part of that was Day, but Knowles obviously deserves credit.
JIM KNOWLES TO PENN STATE!
pennstate.rivals.com
INSTANT REACTION PODCAST
pennstate.rivals.com
Penn State set to hire Ohio State DC Jim Knowles as Defensive Coordinator
Penn State's search for their next defensive coordinator has come to an end, with Jim Knowles as the new DC.
INSTANT REACTION PODCAST
PSU Pod: Instant Reaction to Penn State stealing Ohio State DC Jim Knowles
The Penn State 365 Pod reacts to Penn State Football landing Ohio State DC Jim Knowles as the new Defensive Coordinator.
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I am at the point thinking:
-why pay a guy $3 million or more who is probably one & done? Most likely not bringing any OSU players with him
--His defensive scheme is very nuanced and takes a few years to have real impact.
---2025 has players in place but they might not fully grasp/excell in his scheme, then it's rebuild for 2026
-I wanted Lynn
-Now its time to look for a young up & coming DC who has had success @ a lower level with less talented players; has a
--He would most likely want to stay longer
Just my preference. Not discounting others.
He may be leaving, but "didn't fit well with the scheme?" OSU's entire defensive scheme is Knowles. He completely changed everything up when he arrived, which is exactly what OSU wanted him to do. That's why he's always said at every stop he's made that it takes three years for it to really pay off. It's a difficult scheme that requires players to be in the system several years. Even at OSU, with a defense full of 4-5 year guys, it didn't fully take off until after the first Oregon game this year. Some of that was because of the difference in philosophy between LJ and Knowles, but it was steady improvement for three years with Knowles.
Yeah, he made a point of saying that when he first got to Columbus. It takes several years of guys being in his system to fully understand and execute it. While there was improvement each year at OSU, it wasn't until after the first Oregon game that the D really took off. It was the same way when he was at Okie State.
Two things I love about this:
1. It really means Penn State is going all-in on the upcoming season and pushing all their chips into the middle.
2. It feels damn good to steal him away from tO$U.
Still wish we managed to keep Kobe, though.
1. It really means Penn State is going all-in on the upcoming season and pushing all their chips into the middle.
2. It feels damn good to steal him away from tO$U.
Still wish we managed to keep Kobe, though.
PSU Pod: Instant Reaction to Penn State stealing Ohio State DC Jim Knowles
The Penn State 365 Pod reacts to Penn State Football landing Ohio State DC Jim Knowles as the new Defensive Coordinator.
