Jim Knowles would join James Franklin's Penn State football staff after three seasons at Ohio State, where he won a national championship.

Penn State football reportedly will make former Ohio State Buckeye Jim Knowles the highest-paid assistant coach in the nation.

The Philadelphia native and St. Joseph’s Prep alum will become Penn State ’s next defensive coordinator, according to multiple reports on Sunday. Knowles has been with Ohio State since 2022, and reportedly will be the highest-paid coordinator in college football history. The deal, according to ESPN, is worth $3.1 million over three years.