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When Penn State left the field after the 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9, James Franklin knew he had work to do.
Franklin, though, didn’t realize then that he’d be spending the next two weeks or so looking for a new defensive coordinator after Tom Allen left to take the same job at Clemson.
The search ended in stunning fashion when the Nittany Lions officially hired Jim Knowles away from nemesis Ohio State, which won the national championship last week.
The 59-year-old Knowles reportedly is signing a three-year contract worth more than $9 million, which makes him the highest-paid coordinator in the country.
His hiring, which became official Monday morning, is the clearest sign that Penn State and Franklin are all in for the 2025 season.
“He’s a strong strategist and excellent defensive mind,” Franklin said in a statement released by Penn State. “He reflects the core values our culture of excellence is built upon.”
The Lions will begin the season as bona fide national championship contenders following the retention of star players Drew Allar, Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant and Zakee Wheatley and the addition of Knowles.
After lagging behind Ohio State, the gold standard in the Big Ten, in NIL money for several years, Penn State has ponied up with the support of big-time donors.
By adding Knowles, the Lions not only strengthened their coaching staff but also weakened the Buckeyes’ staff, at least for the time being.
“I have always had a ton of respect for Coach Franklin and the program he has built here,” Knowles said in a statement. “I look forward to working with this tremendous staff and group of student-athletes and am ready to get to work.”
A Philadelphia native and St. Joseph’s Prep grad, Knowles built an outstanding reputation as defensive…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/penn-state-james-franklin-2025-172100328.html
Author : Reading Eagle, Pa.
Publish date : 2025-01-27 17:21:00
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