KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Jim Knowles, a championship-winning assistant coach and one of the most esteemed defensive minds in football, has been named Tennessee defensive coordinator, head coach Josh Heupel announced Thursday.
Knowles brings 38 years of college football experience to Rocky Top, including 18 seasons as a defensive coordinator and the last four years in the Big Ten. He has orchestrated four top 15 total defenses nationally over the last six seasons with three of those units finishing in the top four.
“Hiring Jim Knowles was our top priority from the start of this process,” Heupel said. “Jim has a proven track record of developing elite defenses that play with an edge, and we got to see that first-hand during the 2024 College Football Playoff. His defenses are always physical, well prepared and can adapt quickly in-game against today’s complex offenses. He’s a competitor, a winner and someone who will get the most out of our players in practice and on gameday. We are thrilled to welcome Jim to Rocky Top as he helps us chase championships.”
Knowles has coordinated defenses at Penn State (2025), Ohio State (2022-24), Oklahoma State (2018-21), Duke (2011-17) and West Michigan (1997-2002). He also spent six years as the head coach of his alma mater, Cornell, from 2004-09.
“I am excited for this opportunity to work with Coach Heupel and represent Vol Nation,” Knowles said.
From 2022-24, Knowles was the architect of an Ohio State defense that allowed just 14.9 points per game and 278.7 yards per contest – both first in the nation over that three-year span. He coached 11 NFL Draft picks during a period where the Buckeyes compiled a 36-6 overall record, three double-digit win seasons and two College Football Playoff appearances.
The crowning achievement came during 2024-25 when Ohio State steamrolled through the College Football Playoff to win the national championship ignited by Knowles’ unit that finished first in the nation in scoring defense (12.9), total defense (254.6) and yards per play allowed (4.19). The Buckeyes were second in the country in sacks (53) and redzone defense (60.5), while ranking third in rushing defense (87.6), passing defense (167.0) and sacks per game (3.31).
Knowles’ group held six top 10 teams under 21 points, including a three-game CFP stretch that saw the Buckeyes defeat No. 9 seed Tennessee, 42-17, top seed Oregon, 41-21 and No. 5 seed Texas, 28-14. Eight members of his 2024 championship defense were then selected in the first five rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.
In 2023, Knowles’ second season in Columbus saw the Buckeyes rank first nationally in pass defense (145.9), second in scoring defense (11.2), third in total defense (265.4) and fifth in third down defense (28.6).
Knowles arrived in Columbus in 2022 and made an immediate impact as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. During his first season with the Buckeyes, the defense improved in all four major categories from 2021, including total defense (45 spots to 13th – 321.5), scoring defense (14 spots to 24th – 21.0), passing defense (70 spots to 26th – 200.5) and rushing defense (two spots to 24th – 121.1). Knowles played a pivotal role in leading Ohio State to an 11-2 record and the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.
Prior to Ohio State, Knowles spent four seasons as the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State (2018-21), where his defenses improved each year in total defense, scoring defense, passing yards per game, yards per play, yards per pass, rushing yards per game and yards per rush.
In 2021, Oklahoma State led the Big 12 and ranked in the top five in the FBS in sacks per game (first – 4.0), total sacks (second – 56), tackles for loss per game (first – 8.36), total tackles for loss (second – 117), third down defense (fourth – 28.8), total defense (fifth – 297.9) and rushing defense (fifth – 87.6). The Cowboys allowed just 4.58 yards per play, which was tops in the Big 12 and fifth nationally. Knowles was tabbed as a Broyles Award finalist for his efforts.
In 2020, Oklahoma State led the nation and set a school record in third-down conversion percentage defense (26.5), while also ranking first nationally in fumble return yards (190), tied for first in defensive touchdowns (four), eighth in fumble recoveries (10), 20th in tackles for loss per game (8.1) and 16th in sacks per game (3.0).
During the 2018 campaign, Knowles helped the Cowboys to four wins against Top 25 teams, including No. 6 Texas and No. 7 West Virginia, while ranking in the top 20 in sacks per game (10th – 3.0) and tackles for loss per game (20th – 7.39).
Knowles has ties to a legendary VFL assistant coach in David Cutcliffe. The two worked together for nine seasons, and Knowles was the former Tennessee offensive coordinator’s linebackers coach and defensive coordinator at Duke from 2011-17. He also coached safeties in 2010. Duke appeared in five bowl games during his eight seasons in Durham, including recording its first 10-win campaign and an ACC Championship game appearance in 2013.
During Knowles’ final season at Duke in 2017, the Blue Devils ranked in the top 25 in seven defensive categories, including 21st in total defense (332.6) and scoring defense (20.2). The Blue Devils also ranked 16th in pass defense (179.4) and third-down defense (32.0).
Knowles and Cutcliffe also worked together at Ole Miss in 2003. With Knowles serving as the linebackers coach, the Rebels went 10-3 and capped the year with a victory over Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl to finish No. 13 in the Associated Press poll.
Knowles owns head coaching experience as well. He served in the top role at his alma mater of Cornell for six seasons from 2004-09, helping the Big Red post three consecutive .500-or-better seasons for the first time in 14 years.
He had a six-year assistant coaching stint at Western Michigan from 1997-2002, and in 2002 when leading the defense, the Broncos led the MAC and ranked 28th nationally in total defense.
A year after graduating from Cornell, Knowles became an assistant coach for the Big Red for nine seasons, through the 1996 season, winning two Ivy League championships in 1988 and 1990. He played defensive end from 1983-86, earning All-Ivy honors and honorable mention All-Eastern College Athletic Conference accolades in his final season.
THE KNOWLES FILE
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Education: Cornell, 1987 (B.S. Industrial and Labor Relations)
Children: Halle, Luke, Jack
COACHING HISTORY
1988: Cornell, Defensive Line
1989-94: Cornell, Running Backs
1995-96: Cornell, Linebackers
1997-2000: Western Michigan, Defensive Line
2001-02: Western Michigan, Defensive Coordinator
2003: Ole Miss, Linebackers
2004-09: Cornell, Head Coach
2010: Duke, Safeties
2011-17: Duke, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2018-21: Oklahoma State, Defensive Coordinator
2022-23: Ohio State, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2024: Ohio State, Defensive Coordinator
2025: Penn State, Defensive Coordinator
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES AS A COACH (16)
2025 CFP National Championship – Ohio State
2025 CFP Semifinal (Cotton Bowl) – Ohio State
2025 CFP Quarterfinal (Rose Bowl) – Ohio State
2024 CFP First Round – Ohio State
2023 Cotton Bowl – Ohio State
2022 CFP Semifinal (Peach Bowl) – Ohio State
2022 Fiesta Bowl – Oklahoma State
2020 Cheez-It Bowl – Oklahoma State
2019 Texas Bowl – Oklahoma State
2018 Liberty Bowl – Oklahoma State
2017 Quick Lane Bowl – Duke
2015 Pinstripe Bowl – Duke
2014 Sun Bowl – Duke
2013 Chick-fil-A Bowl – Duke
2012 Belk Bowl – Duke
2004 Cotton Bowl – Ole Miss
