Jim Knowles and Andy Kotelnicki are well-regarded play callers on their respective sides of the ball. But now they're working together in a big way.
Penn State’s coordinators building strong relationship this spring: ‘More than anywhere I’ve ever been’Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles looks on during the first day of spring practice on March 25, 2025.
Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comOnly twice has an Andy Kotelnicki-led offense been held without a touchdown since he took over as the offensive coordinator at Kansas in 2021 and laterHis Jayhawks were stifled in 2021 in a 55-3 drubbing against Oklahoma State, and his Nittany Lions looked helpless in losing 20-13 against Ohio State this past season.Knowles and Kotelnicki are now coworkers after James Franklin and Pat Kraft completed a dogged pursuit of the former Buckeyes coordinator and Philadelphia native. The duo has often been regarded among the nation’s best coordinator pairings for the 2025 season, and their high-powered football IQs have led to plenty of pre- and post-spring practice brainstorming. “Andy and I have a really good relationship,” Knowles said last week. “We do work together a lot in exchanging of ideas and, ‘Hey, this, this hurts us.’ Or he’ll be like, ‘Boy, this is good.’ So we do talk a lot, probably more than anywhere I’ve ever been.” Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki during Pro Day in Holuba Hall on March 28, 2025. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comKnowles’ resume speaks for itself at this point in his career, as the 60-year-old coach has won a national title and boasted some of football’s best defenses. He’s adept at disguising coverages and has made his living confusing quarterbacks at the line of scrimmage.Kotelnicki, meanwhile, is more of an up-and-comer at 44 years old. But his frequent pre-snap motions and wacky trick plays have started to gain him more than enough nationwide recognition. The creative repertoire he executes has given Knowles some fits already this offseason. “It’s more than I’ve ever gone against in a spring, to be quite honest with you,” Knowles said. “I try to tell that to the defensive guys, that this helps us. Because our offense is so multiple and creative in the formations and different things they do that are really challenging. “So when you put in a basic call, it has to be able to adjust against everything when you’re going against Andy and our offense. I’m not saying we’re always right, but it gives us a lot of good tape to be able to watch this summer with the players to teach.”
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