Knowles, a Philadelphia native, left the Buckeyes after winning the national championship in 2024 to join James Franklin’s staff at Penn State. But on Oct. 12, Franklin was fired when Penn State started the season 3-3 and had three consecutive Big Ten losses.
Knowles remained on the Nittany Lions staff under interim head coach Terry Smith, including when Ohio State beat Penn State 38-14 on Nov. 1. After a long search, Penn State has found a new head coach, but what does that mean for Knowles?
Is ex-Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles staying at Penn State?
While not confirmed, there is a good chance Knowles’ tenure as Penn State’s defense coordinator is over.
On Dec. 5, Penn State announced the hiring of Matt Campbell as the program’s new coach. Campbell, a Massillon, Ohio native, was head coach of Iowa State from 2016-2025 and a three-time Big 12 coach of the year.
In a statement, Nittany Lions athletic director Pat Kraft revealed that interim head coach Smith will “continue to be a part of the program.” ESPN reported that Smith signed a four-year deal to work on Campbell’s coaching staff, but his new job title has not been confirmed.
But unlike Smith, there was no mention of Knowles in the statement from Kraft. On3 reported that Campbell is working to hire Cyclones defensive coordinator Jon Heacock as his new defensive coordinator, which would put Knowles’ job in jeopardy.
