Candidates abound to replace Jim Knowles, the former Ohio State defensive coordinator who departed Ohio State for Penn State yesterday. Expect Ohio State to hire an external candidate, though there are several stars internal stars on the defensive staff. Ohio State can pay any amount of money to attract quality external candidates for its defensive coordinator job. Ohio State will probably hire a defensive coordinator who has had success at lesser Division I college football teams. Which coach do you think will be next to leave Ohio State?
Knowles’ Reasons For Leaving Clarify
The reasons for the departure of Knowles, and the resulting Ohio State search for a new defensive coordinator, are becoming clearer. Three appear the largest. First, Knowles did not get along well with Head Coach Ryan Day. He also did not get along with Defensive Line Coach Larry Johnson. Second, as evidenced by his coaching career, Knowles has moved around a bunch. It was time to move to a new job. Third, Knowles is from Philadelphia, so that explains his strange lateral move to Penn State. Also, Knowles was not invited to the Ohio State victory celebration yesterday in Ohio Stadium.
External Candidates To Replace Knowles
Jim Leonhard, currently the defensive backs coach for the Denver Broncos, is at the top of the list of candidates to replace Knowles. Then there is Randy Bates, Pittsburgh’s defensive coordinator, and a viable candidate in his own right. An Ohio State alumnus; Bates has been the defensive coordinator at Pittsburgh since 2018.
Jerod Mayo, former New England Patriots head coach, is the third of the external candidates to replace Knowles. Mayo is looking for a job as he was fired by the New England Patriots. A fourth candidate is Jon Heacock, Iowa State’s defensive coordinator. He is the younger brother of former Ohio State Defensive Coordinator Jim Heacock, so there is an Ohio State tie there. Another Ohio State tie is the fifth of the external candidates that could fill the spot vacated by Knowles. Mike Tressel, Wisconsin defensive coordinator. He is the nephew of Jim Tressel.
Numbers six and seven of the external candidates are two up-and-comers among the ranks of defensive coaches. Jonatan Patke is the defensive coordinator at Duke, where he has done well. Patke’s defense ranked in the top 10 nationally in five categories – first in tackles for loss (9.2 per game), third in defensive touchdowns (4) and passing efficiency defense (105.27), ninth in sacks (3.07 per game), and 10th in turnovers gained (24). Then there is Matt Brock, the current defensive coordinator at UCONN. The UCONN defense ranked fourth nationally in third-down defense, they got off the field.
Other Possibilities
Also worth a call are Jeff Hafley, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator, and a former Ohio State coach. Luke Fickell, Wisconsin head coach, and former Buckeyes player and interim head coach. Phil Parker, Iowa Defensive Coordinator. Parker has worked alongside Kirk Ferentz at Iowa since Ferentz became Iowa’s head coach in 1999, but the Hawkeyes always have a strong defense. He is an Ohio native.
Glenn Schumann is the Georgia defensive coordinator. Schumann has been regarded as one of college football’s top young defensive coaches for several years as Georgia’s defenses have consistently been among college football’s elite. Schumann has served as the Bulldogs’ co-defensive coordinator from 2019-23 and as its sole defensive coordinator this past season.
Internal Candidates To Replace Knowles
Matt Guerrieri is the current Ohio State safeties coach. He is probably the leader of the candidates to replace Knowles. “One of the brightest minds in college football, and I’m telling you, a star in the making,” Day said while introducing Guerrieri to the crowd at the championship celebration in Ohio Stadium yesterday. Guerrieri would have to jump Tim Walton, Ohio State’s secondary coach.
Ohio State Defensive Depth Chart
The Ohio State defense will be strong next season, so whichever of the candidates are picked to replace Knowles as defensive coordinator will have much talent to work with. Defensive returnees include Sonny Styles and Davidson Igbinosun. In fact, with Styles and Igbinosun back, all of the projected members of the 2025 Ohio State defense saw playing time for the 2024 champion Buckeyes. After winning the 2024 national championship, expect the Buckeyes to do well with recruits and in the transfer portal.
Conclusion
All that said, Ohio State will probably go off-script to replace Knowles. A couple of things are certain. First, the defensive coordinator job at Ohio State is an attractive one and any of the candidates who are considered for it should be flattered. Second, Ohio State will pay top dollar to fill its vacancy. Knowles got $3.1 million a year to be the defensive coordinator at Penn State, expect the new Ohio State defensive coordinator to make at least as much.