Former Penn State DC Jim Knowles Signed by Tennessee

Jim Knowles has rebounded quickly.

Just one day after it was first reported Penn State wouldn’t be retaining Knowles as defensive coordinator under new head coach Matt Campbell, Tennessee announced it is hiring him on a three-year deal. Knowles is set to make $2 million in 2026, $2.2 million in 2027 and $2.4 million in 2028, a decrease from his contract with the Nittany Lions which made him the highest paid coordinator in college football history.

It’s a solid landing spot for Knowles, whose track record includes successful stints at Duke, Oklahoma State and Ohio State, where he won a national championship in January 2025. His lone year at Penn State proved less successful, as the team ranked No. 37 nationally in points allowed and No. 34 in total yards allowed, one year after ranking top 10 in both categories.

While the unit performed admirably at times, the Nittany Lions surrendered 42 points in an inexplicable loss to UCLA and 36 to Rutgers to close out the regular season, with many of the issues still persisting. Several key defenders also regressed statistically after strong seasons in 2024, justifying the move to let Knowles walk.

It’s unclear who his replacement will be, though Deon Broomfield was recently added to the staff directory as a “secondary defensive coordinator,” the same role he held at Iowa State previously.