Tennessee is reportedly bringing in a big-name at defensive coordinator.
Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports first reported that Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles had emerged as a target for the Volunteers. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Wednesday afternoon that Knowles is negotiating his Penn State buyout and is expected to be the new Tennessee defensive coordinator, though the hiring has not been finalized.
A deal at Tennessee is not finalized, per sources. But Knowles has emerged as the target and that's his expected landing spot. CBS first linked Knowles and Tennessee. Penn State owes him more than $7 million on the two years remaining on his deal, per his contract.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 10, 2025Knowles was at Penn State for just the 2025 season. His move to PSU ahead of the 2025 season was major news in the college football world as he was hired away from Ohio State after helping the Buckeyes win a national championship in 2024 when they had the nation’s top-ranked scoring defense.
He spent 3 seasons with the Buckeyes after previous coordinator stops at Oklahoma State and Duke. Knowles’s only SEC coaching experience came at Ole Miss in 2003 before he became head coach at Cornell, his alma mater.
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel recently dismissed defensive coordinator Tim Banks.
Tennessee expected to hire former Penn State, Ohio State DC, per report Saturday Down South.
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