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Jim Knowles opens up about departure from Ohio State

Spencer-Holbrookby: Spencer Holbrook05/06/25SpencerHolbrook
Jim Knowles
USA Today Sports

COLUMBUS — Former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles helped lift the Buckeyes over Notre Dame on Jan. 20 to cap off the College Football Playoff with a national championship win. Just hours later, he was on the phone with Penn State asking about its defensive coordinator opening.

In a new story from ESPN’s Heather Dinich, Knowles opened up about his path from celebrated Buckeyes defensive coordinator to taking the same position with a conference rival with a new $3.1 million annual salary.

“Season’s over, everything coming to a head again quickly,” Knowles told Dinich. “Ohio State hasn’t come forward with a deal, and it’s like, OK, if I’m going to act on this or at least explore it, I have got to make the call.”

In his sit-down interview with Dinich, Knowles says he wanted a contract extension from Ohio State before the national title game. The Buckeyes were busy preparing for Notre Dame, and they didn’t offer him a contract extension until after winning the title.

But by the time Ohio State got around to offering Knowles a new deal, he had already been in talks with James Franklin and the Nittany Lions. That led to, according to Knowles, Ohio State coach Ryan Day and the administration asking him not to attend the victory celebration inside the Horseshoe on Jan. 26.

“I was asked not to go to the parade, and I respect that,” Knowles told ESPN. “I’m not trying to be a secretive guy. Here’s this offer, there were a couple others that were every bit as much money, and then there was Ohio State’s offer, which was still great money, but not as much, so then you have to sit with it.”

Knowles told ESPN that he considered staying at Ohio State, but his flirtation with Penn State made things “awkward” between he and the Buckeyes. He claims the timing of the contract talks with Ohio State were a deciding factor for him and those around him.

“Maybe I’ll take less because Ohio State’s a great place,” he told ESPN. “But then they asked me not to come to the parade. So then you’re like, ‘OK, honestly, the writing is on the wall.’ Now it becomes something. It’s always something on the outside world, but now it’s become something here, too.

“I hadn’t made any decisions, but you just kind of feel like — I wouldn’t say I’m not wanted here — but you just feel like, OK, now it’s gotten awkward.”

Knowles accepted the position at Penn State just after the celebration wrapped up on Jan. 26. Ohio State moved on in search of replacing Knowles, who took over a bad Buckeyes defense following the 2021 season and made it into the best defense in the country — and a national championship unit.

After an extensive search, Ohio State coach Ryan Day hired former New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia to replace Knowles.

Knowles will return to Columbus with Penn State for a showdown on Nov. 1.

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