In an effort to keep one of the top defensive minds in college football on staff, Ohio State is offering Jim Knowles a contract that would make him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
This news comes after rumors swirled that Knowles, who is fresh off leading the national-championship-winning Buckeyes to the nation’s top-rated defense, is being pursued by other Power Five programs to become their defensive coordinator. Penn State is one of those suitors, according to the Dispatch, after defensive coordinator Tom Allen left for Clemson earlier this month, while Oklahoma is also rumored to be involved.
Knowles is currently one of four OSU assistants making seven figures in salary, earning $2.2 million a year after signing a three-year extension last January. He is the highest-paid assistant on Ryan Day’s staff, just ahead of offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Chip Kelly at $2 million.
If Knowles is to become the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the sport, he would pass Michigan’s Wink Martindale, who earned $2.5 million this past season and is set to make another $2.75 million next year.
Since joining Day’s staff in 2022, Knowles has transformed Ohio State into the nation’s unquestioned top defense, one which finished this season ranked first in scoring defense (12.2 points allowed per game), total defense (251.1 yards allowed per game) and third in passing defense (167.0) and rushing defense (87.6).
BSB will have more on this breaking news story as news unfolds.
