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Jim Knowles, the architect of one of the nation’s outstanding defenses the past two seasons at Oklahoma State University, took over as defensive coordinator at Ohio State University on Jan. 2. He also coaches the Ohio State linebackers.
- A Track Record of Improvement
- A Varied Coaching Background
- He Has East Coast Roots
- He Was in High Demand
- Oklahoma State Players Loved Him
Oklahoma State’s defense progressively got better each year over the course of his four-year tenure in Stillwater. His tenure got off to a shaky start in 2018, when Oklahoma State ranked 112th in total defense (452.5 yards allowed per game) and 97th in scoring defense (32.5 points allowed per game). But the Cowboys improved to 82nd in total defense...
In more than 30 years of experience as a college coach, Knowles has done a little bit of everything. He has spent most of his career on the defensive side of the ball and most of his time coaching linebackers. He was Oklahoma State’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the past four years, and was the linebackers coach for the final sev...
Knowles grew up in inner city Philadelphia, where money was tight and he often heard gunshots in his neighborhood, but he credits football with leading him to a better life. “I started playing football when I was 6, and football saved my life,” Knowles told The Oklahoman’s Scott Wrightin 2018. “It delivered me from a really tough situation. “There ...
Ohio State wasn’t the only major program that sought to hire Knowles away from Oklahoma State. He was also considered to be a candidate to replace Brent Pry as Penn State’s defensive coordinator, while new Florida coach Billy Napier was also reportedly interested in hiring Knowles. Mike Gundy was also highly interested in keeping Knowles in Stillwa...
In the aftermath of Ohio State announcing Knowles’ hiring, a multitude of current and former Oklahoma State players took to Twitter to praise the Buckeyes’ new defensive coordinator and wish him well. Knowles is known for smoking a post-game cigar when his teams win, and he’s been described by his players as a “goob.” As illustrated in the followin...
Jim Knowles (born April 16, 1965) is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the defensive coordinator at Ohio State University. Knowles served as the head football coach at Cornell University from 2004 to 2009.
Dec 8, 2021 · Ohio State football hired Jim Knowles last month as the new defensive coordinator as the Buckeyes try to bounce back from missing the College Football Playoffs for the first time in Ryan...
- Joe Harrington
Jim Knowles is in his second season as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Ohio State University. His first Ohio State defense finished higher in 2022 in all four major defensive categories than in 2021, including significant improvements in total defense and passing defense.
Dec 7, 2021 · Ohio State is hiring Oklahoma State’s Jim Knowles as its next defensive coordinator, tasking him with shoring up a unit that struggled at various points this fall. In a statement released...
