Penn State’s new head coach, Matt Campbell, has been making significant moves to rebuild the roster. It starts with the arrival of his old school buddy, Jon Heacock. This means Jim Knowles is no longer retained on the coaching staff, turning into a blessing for the Tennessee Volunteers.

According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Penn State’s new head coach, Matt Campbell, is expected to bring Jon Heacock from Iowa State to take over the Defensive Coordinator role, replacing Jim Knowles in his existing role. Knowles, after a lone year with the Nittany Lions, is likely to hit the market in search of his next home. 

While Knowles was released from Penn State’s DC role, CBS first reported Knowles as a potential target for the Tennessee job. Confirming the rumors, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Tennessee is targeting Jim Knowles to be its defensive coordinator, with an active negotiation underway for the deal.

Tennessee fired its 5-season DC Tim Banks on Monday, as the defense started slipping this fall. The Vols’ defense fell to 113th nationally in pass defense and allowed more than 33 points in seven games, including 45 to Vanderbilt, which led to their loss in the regular-season finale against the in-state rivals.

As the DC search is in process, Knowles could be a great fit for the role, bringing his experience and expertise to the table. The 60-year-old defensive mastermind attained immense success during his time at Oklahoma State and Ohio State. He was a finalist for the Broyles Award back in 2021, during his time at Oklahoma State.

He then moved to Ohio State and led the 2024 defense, allowing the fewest points and yards, and helped them win the national title. Knowles had a short run at Penn State, but it didn’t turn out as expected.

Jim Knowles as Penn State’s Defensive Coordinator

Knowles joined James Franklin’s Nittany Lions staff ahead of the 2025 season, leaving Ohio State after the 2024 national championship win. The 60-year-old promised to make better use of his experience and expertise to improve the Nittany Lions’ defense. 

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But that experience didn’t turn out well. Knowles’ defense had an up-and-down season. His complicated scheme didn’t have an immediate impact, as the players seemingly took longer to learn than expected. The Knowles factor was reflected in Penn State’s defense in the second half of the season but wasn’t having its full effect.

The Nittany Lions’ defense finished the season ranking 34th in total defense, 37th in scoring defense, 72nd in rushing defense, and 22nd in passing defense. The Lions unit was also ranked 40th in sacks and 94th in turnovers gained, and had big-time trouble getting off the field on third down. This made PSU ranked 95th in that category. 

While Knowles still has two years left in his contract to prove his expertise, the coaching changes didn’t retain him. Penn State will owe Knowles a $7 million buyout.