Jim Knowles

Defensive Coordinator · Tennessee

Headline rating: as defensive coordinator. Every role he has been rated in is below.

Chemistry

—

index in development

Seasons here1

Programs5

Stints5

Career path

Head-coaching stints since 1936; assistant roles since 2016

2026TennesseeDefensive Coordinator

2025Penn StateDefensive Coordinator

2022–2024Ohio StateDefensive Coordinator

2018–2021Oklahoma StateDefensive Coordinator / Linebackers

2016–2017DukeDefensive Coordinator/Linebackers

Rating83Peak88

His defense against its preseason projection (value over expectation) and the unit's opponent-adjusted quality.

Season	Team	Unit (EPA/play)	Over expectation	Season score
2025	Penn State	0.09	-0.03	0.18
2024	Ohio State	0.18	0.03	1.25
2023	Ohio State	0.16	0.02	1.06
2022	Ohio State	0.10	-0.02	0.39
2021	Oklahoma State	0.22	0.12	2.23
2020	Oklahoma State	0.09	0.01	0.55
2019	Oklahoma State	0.02	0.08	0.85
2018	Oklahoma State	-0.03	-0.06	-0.67
2017	Duke	0.10	0.12	1.65
2016	Duke	-0.03	—	-0.18

Season score: 0 = an average season in this role; positive = better.

Rating79Peak85

Room quality, development (his players gaining more than typical players at the position year to year) and recruiting credit.

Season	Team	Room	Room quality	Development	Recruiting	Season score
2023	Ohio State	Linebackers	79	-0.8	0.929	0.69
2022	Ohio State	Linebackers	81	+1.4	0.921	0.91
2021	Oklahoma State	Linebackers	88	-0.4	0.852	0.85
2021	Ohio State	Linebackers	72	+1.0	0.852	-0.09
2020	Oklahoma State	Linebackers	81	-7.7	0.876	-0.02
2019	Oklahoma State	Linebackers	78	+8.9	0.848	0.85
2018	Oklahoma State	Linebackers	75	-2.1	0.835	-0.21
2017	Duke	Linebackers	82	+3.5	0.866	0.83
2016	Duke	Linebackers	75	—	0.838	-0.08

Season score: 0 = an average season in this role; positive = better.