Ohio State’s defensive coordinator is celebrating winning a national championship with a new contract — from one of their rivals.

Haines was a finalist for the Broyles Award (top assistant) in 2024 and a semifinalist for the award in 2023. During Allen’s one season in State College, Penn State, the Lions finished No. 7 in FBS in total defense (294.8), No. 8 in scoring defense (16.5) and No. 9 in rushing defense (101.9).

Knowles is a Philadelphia native and has made stops as defensive coordinator with Western Michigan, Duke, and Oklahoma State prior to his three seasons with Ohio State. The former Indiana coach said the move brings he and his wife closer to their two daughters.

The Nittany Lions reportedly made the former Ohio State assistant college football's highest-paid defensive coordinator.

Ohio State has lost its defensive coordinator to a Big Ten rival. Penn State announced Monday it had hired Jim Knowles as its defensive coordinator. According to multiple reports, Knowles reached a three-year contract with an average annual salary of $3.

Penn State’s offseason is off to a great start, in terms of what James Franklin has been able to do with his coaching staff. On Sunday, that became clear when Franklin hired Jim Knowles away from national champion Ohio State to become the Nittany Lions’ new defensive coordinator,