Penn State soccer and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles are parting methods after only one season in State Faculty, sources instructed BWI’s Nate Bauer and On3’s Pete Nakos. Bauer reported on Dec. 10 that Knowles was not anticipated to return to be a part of new head coach Matt Campbell’s employees .
Knowles left Ohio State to affix James Franklin’s Nittany Lions employees forward of the 2025 season. He has two years left on the deal he signed then. It’s unclear what the college will owe him when it comes to a buyout. Campbell may convey his former Iowa State defensive coordinator, Jon Heacock, with him to State Faculty. Nonetheless, even when he does, it’s unclear if he would fill the identical function with the Lions.
Replace: Knowles is negotiating his buyout with Penn State, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, and anticipated to exchange Tim Banks because the Tennessee defensive coordinator. Thamel provides: “Penn State owes him greater than $7 million on the 2 years remaining on his deal, per his contract.”
“I’m grateful for my time at Ohio State and the chance that Coach Day gave me,” Knowles stated final February. “We had the No. 1 protection within the nation, we gained a nationwide championship. Had nice relationships with the gamers and with Coach [Ryan] Day and the administration, felt supported.
“You attain a degree in your profession the place you’re given alternatives based mostly on previous efficiency. Penn State, for me rising up in inner-city Philly, was the epitome of school soccer. I used to be by no means proficient sufficient to make it to Penn State as a participant, however given the chance to do it now as a coach, it’s actually the place I need to be to proceed my profession and produce any experience that I can to the group.”
Knowles’ protection had an up-and-down season in 2025. His sophisticated scheme seemingly took longer for the gamers to study than anybody anticipated. The group did play higher, however not nice, within the second half of the season. All instructed, his first and solely Penn State unit finishes thirty seventh in scoring protection and Nos. 34, 72, and 22 in whole, dashing, and move protection, respectively. The Lions have been additionally fortieth in sacks this fall and 94th in turnovers gained. Getting off the sector on third down was additionally an issue. PSU ranked ninety fifth in that class.
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