Jim Knowles (American football)

Jim Knowles

Current position
Title	Defensive coordinator
Team	Ohio State
Conference	Big Ten
Annual salary	$1.9 million
Biographical details
Born	(1965-04-16) April 16, 1965 (age 59) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Playing career
1983–1986	Cornell
Position(s)	Defensive end
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1988	Cornell (DL)
1989–1994	Cornell (RB)
1995–1996	Cornell (LB/RC)
1997–2000	Western Michigan (DL)
2001–2002	Western Michigan (DC)
2003	Ole Miss (LB/RC)
2004–2009	Cornell
2010–2011	Duke (DC/S)
2012–2014	Duke (DC)
2015–2017	Duke (DC/ILB)
2018–2021	Oklahoma State (DC)
2022–present	Ohio State (DC)
Head coaching record
Overall	26–34

Jim Knowles (born April 16, 1965) is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the defensive coordinator at Ohio State University. Knowles served as the head football coach at Cornell University from 2004 to 2009.

A 1987 graduate of Cornell University, Knowles was a defensive end on the Big Red football team. He was elected to Cornell's Sphinx Head Society during his senior year, ultimately graduating with a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations in 1987.^[1] Prior to receiving the head coach position, Knowles served as an assistant at Cornell, Western Michigan University and the University of Mississippi.

From 2004 to 2009, he compiled a 26–34 record as head football coach at Cornell University.

On December 28, 2009, Knowles was named the defensive coordinator at Duke under head coach David Cutcliffe. Knowles had previously served as linebackers coach under Cutcliffe while he was head coach at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in 2003.^[2]

On January 29, 2018, Knowles was hired as the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State under head coach Mike Gundy,^[3][4] and held the position through the 2021 season. During Knowles' time at Oklahoma State, the Cowboys' defense saw significant statistical improvements. After regressing in areas like opponent points per play and opponent yards per play during Knowles' first season,^[5][6] Oklahoma State's defense improved in each of Knowles' next three seasons.^{[7][8][9][10][11][12]} For the 2021 season, Knowles' defense finished top ten in areas such as opponent points per play,^[13] opponent points per game,^[14] opponent yards per play,^[15] opponent yards per game,^[16] opponent yards per rush attempt,^[17] opponent rushing yards per game,^[18] team sack percentage,^[19] and sacks per game.^[20]

Ohio State Buckeyes coach Ryan Day announced on December 7, 2021 that Knowles had accepted the defensive coordinator position for his team effective January 2, 2022.^[21]

• Oklahoma State profile