In a shocking move shortly after Ohio State claimed the national championship, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles accepted the same position at rival Penn State.
The move caught many off guard as Knowles chose to leave a prestigious role for a conference rival, but it wasn’t entirely unexpected given the tension that had developed between him and head coach Ryan Day earlier in the season.
Ohio State defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau, who had a unique relationship with Knowles, affectionately referred to him as “Batman” due to the way Knowles worked in solitude to prepare for games.
“I always called him Batman,” Tuimoloau said prior to the national title game. “He is in his cave, and he comes out and you never know what he has in store, but you’ve got to get to know him. Once you get to know him, that’s one guy you’ll have on your side. To be able to play for him as a DC, it’s a blessing.”
Knowles’ tendency to work independently and keep a low profile was well-known, but it became clear that tensions had arisen this season as Day began taking a more hands-on approach with the defense.
This included attending more defensive meetings and pushing for adjustments mid-season following Ohio State’s loss to Oregon.
According to a report from CBS Sports, Knowles reached his limit after three years at Ohio State, where he helped transform a struggling defense into one of the best units in the country.
“The coordinator reached his limit after three years at Ohio State, where he successfully revamped and revitalized a struggling unit into a championship caliber group in short order – but not without interference and pressures from head coach Ryan Day, who inserted himself in defensive meetings more often this season and asked for changes to be made midway through the season,” the article revealed.
Day, who had a background as the offensive coordinator before becoming head coach, chose to focus more on the defensive side of the ball in light of recent struggles.
He allowed offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to manage the offense without interference, a stark contrast to his growing involvement with the defense.
Additionally, Knowles had to adjust to Ohio State’s defensive scheme, which featured a four-man front, unlike the three-man fronts he had used at Duke and Oklahoma State.
Day explained the change, saying: “When he was at Oklahoma State, they didn’t have four down D-linemen, and then certainly no depth behind it. So, he had to be creative about what he was doing there.
“Decision was made a long time ago that we have the D-linemen here at Ohio State that can play with four down linemen.”
Now, with his move to Penn State, Knowles is expected to have more control over the defensive strategy, including the freedom to implement the schemes he prefers.
On top of that, he will become the highest-paid assistant coach in college football, with a contract averaging $3.1 million, which could rise further with performance incentives.
This development makes Knowles’ decision to leave for Penn State clearer, as the new role offers both greater autonomy and a lucrative financial package.
Having said all of that, it’s clear that most Ohio State fans won’t be sending Knowles a Christmas card anytime soon.
While they certainly appreciate the spectacular job Knowles did with this year’s Buckeyes defense, the fact that he left for rival Penn State is quite a headscratcher.
What are your thoughts on the situation???
