Ohio State is bringing in Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to be its defensive coordinator according to a statement from Ryan Day through an OSU spokesman.
“I have offered a position on the Ohio State football staff to Oklahoma State University defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and he has accepted it,” Day said in a statement. “Starting Jan. 2, Knowles will be the Buckeyes’ new defensive coordinator. What is most important at this time is that we put our players in the best position possible to finish this season with a win in the Rose Bowl. To that end, we will continue our planning and preparation for the game with our current staff of 10 assistant coaches.”
You had a feeling news like this would be coming sooner rather than later as schools shuffle coaching staffs and duties as the carousel turns at the end of the regular season. For Day and the program, the move is an opportunity to shore up a side of the ball that let it down significantly in some key contests this past season, most notably in two losses to Oregon and … yes, Michigan.
Knowles led a Cowboys’ defense that ranks third in the nation in yards allowed per game (278.4) and is a top ten unit in points allowed per contest (16.8) this season. He was a finalist for the Broyles Award that goes to college football’s best assistant coach annually.
We’ll have more on this development as details emerge.
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