Jim Knowles

Jim Knowles, the architect of one of the nation’s outstanding defenses the past two seasons at Oklahoma State University, took over as defensive coordinator at Ohio State University on Jan. 2. He also coaches the Ohio State linebackers. The 2022 campaign will be Knowles’ 35th season in collegiate coaching and it will also represent his 15th year as a defensive coordinator and his 11th as a linebackers coach. Knowles’ defenses at Oklahoma State were on an upward trajectory in each of his four seasons in Stillwater. The Cowboys improved each year under Knowles in total defense, scoring defense, rushing yards per game, passing yards per game, passing efficiency, first downs per game, yards per play, yards per pass, rushing yards per game and yards per rush. The 2021 Cowboys put up historic numbers for the program, ranking in the top-five in the FBS in sacks (No. 1), tackles for loss (No. 2), third-down defense (No. 2), total defense (No. 5) and rushing defense (No. 5). They led the Big 12 in each of those categories. Coach Knowles has coached at many different prestigious Universities such as Duke, Cornell, Mississippi just to name a few.