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James Franklin and Penn State football made a significant move within college football on Sunday by reportedly hiring away Jim Knowles from Ohio State.
The Nittany Lions’ ability to poach their Big Ten rival’s defensive coordinator (to fill the hole created by Tom Allen going to Clemson) didn’t happen though without a significant financial commitment by Franklin and Penn State’s upper brass.
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According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Penn State and Knowles are finalizing a three-year deal that would make him the highest-paid assistant coach in college football with an annual salary of roughly $3.1 million.
Sources: Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is finalizing a three-year deal to become the new defensive coordinator at Penn State. It averages $3.1 million over three years. pic.twitter.com/fdI7ajMx4o
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 26, 2025
As previously reported by the York Daily Record’s Frank Bodani, Knowles is Franklin’s third defensive coordinator in four years. Manny Diaz spent two seasons in Happy Valley on Franklin’s squad before taking the vacant head coaching job at Duke following the 2023 season. Franklin hired Allen as Diaz’s replacement after Allen was let go at Indiana.
The 59-year-old Knowles comes to Penn State after orchestrating one of the top defenses in the country this past season at Ohio State, who defeated Notre Dame in the CFP championship game. Franklin, for what it’s worth, seems excited about the hire, which has not officially been announced yet.
Knowles will now be tasked with replicating that same success with the Nittany Lions, and helping Penn State beat Ohio State for the first time since 2016. The Nittany Lions and Buckeyes are scheduled to play each other on Nov. 1, 2025 in…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/jim-knowles-contract-details-penn-213455444.html
Author : York Daily Record
Publish date : 2025-01-26 21:34:00
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