Jim Knowles explains why he left the Ohio State football program

The former defensive coordinator has revealed why he left the Ohio State football program for Penn State.

Aug 31, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles walks the sideline prior to the NCAA football game against the Akron Zips at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 52-6.
Aug 31, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles walks the sideline prior to the NCAA football game against the Akron Zips at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 52-6. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Winning a national championship is a full team effort. In order to win it all, all parts of the team have to be elite. That was certainly true for the Ohio State football team. They won the 2024 national championship thanks to a combination of elite offense and defense.

Now, both of those units will have new leaders next season. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has decided to leave for the NFL, which was expected. Kelly didn't make it a secret that he was looking to get back into the professional game at some point.

What was more surprising was seeing Jim Knowles leave the Buckeyes for their rivals. He chose to leave for Penn State, a team that hasn't beaten the Ohio State Buckeyes in a decade. On Tuesday, he explained his reasoning for leaving Ohio State in order to head to Happy Valley.

Jim Knowles reveals he always wanted to be at Penn State after leaving the Ohio State football program.

Speaking On Tuesday, Knowles revealed that he always wanted to coach for Penn State. He is from the Philadelphia area, and he has always wanted to return. He also thinks that Penn State is close to winning a championship, which is a sentiment shared by a lot of Nittany Lions fans.

If Knowles wanted to coach for his childhood team, there's nothing the Buckeyes can do about it. They weren't going to be able to afford his salary, either. They feel confident that they can get a defensive coordinator at a cheaper price than the over $3 million Penn State is paying him and still be successful.

Ohio State won't be rushed into making any rash decisions when it comes to hiring an offensive or defensive coordinator. They have to make sure that they get the right guy who fits into the program. Ryan Day knows how important these hires are to the future of the program.

You can bet that the Buckeyes are going to be motivated to play Penn State in the Shoe next year. They are going to want to drop 50 points on Knowles and his defense.

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