Jim Knowles will enter his 38th season as a college coach in 2025. Penn State will be the seventh different school he’s worked at and the fifth different place he’s been a defensive coordinator. The 59-year-old Philadelphia native has been a head coach once,

Knowles would join James Franklin's Penn State staff after three seasons at Ohio State, where he won a national championship.

CBS Sports reports that Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is leaving the Buckeyes to join James Franklin's staff at Penn State. Knowles is expected to be paid an average of $3.1 million over three years, according to ESPN . During Knowles' time at Ohio State, the Buckeyes ranked in the top three in total defense for two of those years.

Penn State made the hiring of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles official on Monday. Here's what each had to say about the move

Nittany Lions coach James Franklin seeks to make a bold move, hiring the architect of the Buckeyes' championship defense.

Penn State has hired Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator after he helped Ohio State win the national championship, according to multiple reports. The Buckeyes had hoped to keep the 59-year-old Knowles, who also was pursued by Oklahoma and Notre Dame.

Jim Knowles landed at Penn State less than a week after helping Ohio State win the national championship. In those precious days following the College Football Playoff finale, the sought-after defensive coordinator had options from which to choose.

In a move that shocked college football fans, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles — fresh off helping Ohio State win a national championship — decided to leave the Buckeyes and take the same job with the Penn State Nittany Lions.

After Penn State football added Jim Knowles, the defensive coordinator comments on what his aspirations are with the team.