The Penn State Nittany Lions football program currently faces significant coaching turnover. New head coach Matt Campbell has made an aggressive, clear-cut move. Consequently, he won’t retain Jim Knowles, the prominent Penn State defensive coordinator, for the 2026 season. This announcement, initially reported by On3, confirms a major Penn State staff change decision. Furthermore, the search for a new DC—the fourth in five seasons—has immediately begun. In essence, this move fuels major program stability concerns.
Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is not being retained by Matt Campbell, sources tell @On3sports.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) December 10, 2025
Former Ohio State and Oklahoma State defensive coordinator. https://t.co/bFtwfr9iif pic.twitter.com/pMtZsrH4pj
Knowles joined the Nittany Lions after success at the Ohio State Buckeyes. Specifically, he helped them win a national championship in 2024. His move to Happy Valley saw him become the highest-paid assistant coach in college football history. Sky-high expectations for the 2025 season matched his massive salary. However, persistent defensive struggles severely hampered those expectations. The defensive unit performance simply did not deliver.
Six losses befell the Nittany Lions, with five of them coming from one-possession deficits. Critical late-game defensive issues plagued the team throughout the year. For instance, a significant overtime loss against the Oregon Ducks occurred. This was because the defense failed to get one final stop. Later, a shocking upset loss to the UCLA Bruins demonstrated a major flaw. They had no answer for QB Nico Iamaleava. He demonstrated a phenomenal QB rushing performance, with multiple rushing touchdowns allowed. Similarly, fourth-quarter collapse scenarios transpired against the Northwestern Wildcats and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Therefore, the results clearly pointed to significant Penn State defense problems.
Knowles is already negotiating a buyout uncertainty with Penn State. According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, the school owes him millions on his remaining contract. This situation is despite the overall savings from James Franklin’s reduced financial package. Knowles is already being linked to a new job, however. He is expected to join Tennessee as their defensive coordinator. To elaborate, the Tennessee Volunteers recently parted ways with Tim Banks. This fast-moving coaching departure timeline is typical of the frantic college football coaching carousel.
Sources: Penn State DC Jim Knowles is in process of negotiating his buyout from Penn State and is expected to land at Tennessee, which is targeting him as the school's defensive coordinator hire. pic.twitter.com/u4tNwAMizo
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 10, 2025
Matt Campbell’s decision signals a complete staff restructuring. Indeed, his priority is building a new coaching staff structure from the ground up. The ongoing defensive coordinator search will be closely scrutinized. Campbell’s actions are immediately shaping Penn State offseason news. Ultimately, this reflects the intense pressure and high stakes of aspirations for a college football national championship.
| Year Hired | Defensive Coordinator | Tenure Length | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Manny Diaz (Succeeded Brent Pry) | Two Seasons | Became Duke Head Coach |
| 2024 | Tom Allen (Succeeded Diaz) | One Season | Left for Clemson DC Role |
| 2025 | Jim Knowles (Succeeded Allen) | One Season | Not retained by Campbell |
