Cornell University Athletics

When Jim Knowles ‘87 stepped back onto campus in January 2004, his main goal was to revitalize the entire Cornell football program. From alumni and fans to players and parents, everyone believes that mission is accomplished. The next goal is to lead the program to its first Ivy League championship since 1990. 

Knowles was named The Roger J. Weiss ’61 Coach of Football by the Meakem*Smith Director of Athletics and Physical Education Andy Noel, becoming the 25th head football coach at Cornell. In the five years since, Knowles has posted a 24-26 record and a 15-20 mark in Ivy play. 

One of his first priorities was taking back Schoellkopf Field and making it one of the most difficult places to play in the Football Championship Subdivision. He has succeeded, motivating his team to a 18-8 home record in five seasons. His 2005 team went 4-1 at home and posted its first winning season overall (6-4) in seven years. The 2006 squad went one better, going 5-1 for its first five-win campaign at Schoellkopf since 1971. Included were two wins over ranked teams (No. 23 Albany and No. 15 Princeton) and a victory over reigning Patriot League champion Colgate.

The 2008 team jumped out to a 3-0 start, its best start in a decade, that included a pair of one-point road wins and a dominant effort against preseason Ivy favorite Yale in the conference opener. In all, seven players were named to the All-Ivy teams.

Cornell registered its third straight season at or above .500 for the first time in 15 years with its 5-5 record in 2007. The Big Red had a stretch of four straight games scoring at least 30 points for the first time since 1921 and established a school record for first downs in a season (231). Cornell also posted an unbeaten non-league slate for the first time since 1998 with victories over Patriot League foes Bucknell, Georgetown and Colgate. Attendance at home games nearly doubled to 8,900 per game.

In 2006, with a roster featuring 65 freshmen and sophomores, including 23 members of the two-deep and eight starters, Cornell got progressively better each week. The Big Red finished in the top half of the Ivy League for the third straight year and won three of its final four games. Seven different players earned All-Ivy honors as Cornell finished its second straight season with at least a .500 record for the first time since the 1999 and 2000 campaigns. 

Known as a defensive mastermind, Knowles’ 2005 squad finished second nationally in rushing defense (88.3 ypg.) and gave up just 33 yards total on the ground in the final three contests. The Big Red also ranked fourth nationally in total defense (261.3 ypg.) and 18th in the country in scoring defense (18.0 ppg.). The offense more than held its own, ranking 10th in the country in rushing offense (248.6 ypg.) and posting two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season for the first time in school history and the second time ever in the Ivy League. Senior offensive tackle Kevin Boothe earned first-team All-America honors and was selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. On special teams, place-kicker A.J. Weitsman set school records for most field goals in a season (14), most consecutive made field goals (11), most kicking points in a year (72), and season (30) and career (42) extra-point kicks without a miss. 

The former Big Red assistant engineered one of the greatest turnarounds in Ivy League history in 2004, turning a 1-9 team that lost seven games by at least two touchdowns into a 4-6 squad that dropped all six contests by 10 points or less, including four by a touchdown or less. The turnaround couldn’t have been more dramatic. A team picked to finish last in the Ivy League finished in sole possession of third place, becoming the first team in Ivy League history to record a winless conference season one year and a winning record the next. But even without the wins, the feeling around the program completely changed. 

The Big Red defense, ranked last in the Ivy League and 104th out of 121 teams nationally in the FCS against the run at 205.0 yards allowed per game in 2003, cut that average in half (101.1 ypg.) to rank first in the Ivy League and seventh nationally. The offense controlled the ball, but also struck for big plays all season, including three scoring passes of greater than 50 yards. Cornell special teams also set a record with eight kick blocks on the year, while the kick return squad averaged 20.6 yards, its highest total since 1978. 

Knowles, 44, spent nine seasons as an assistant coach at Cornell (1988-96), helping lead the team to Ivy League titles in 1988 and 1990. He coached the linebackers (1995-96) and running backs (1989-94) and served as the recruiting coordinator (1995-96) and directed special teams, with one season in charge of the defensive line (1988). Along with the 1988 Ivy League title, the Big Red’s rushing (113.8) and scoring defense (13.7) ranked No. 1 in the East and was 10th and seventh, respectively, in the nation. In 1990, the team featured the No. 11 rushing offense (237.0) in the country. 

Knowles served as the linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Mississippi during the 2003 season. Ole Miss had a standout year, as it posted its first 10-win season (10-3) since 1971 and claimed the Cotton Bowl with a 31-28 win over Oklahoma State. Defensively, the Rebels had the nation’s No. 14 defense vs. the run, allowing opponents 102.5 yards per game. The squad also recorded 106 tackles for loss, including 28 sacks. Ole Miss posted a 7-1 mark in Southeastern Conference play and was co-champion of the SEC’s Western Division for the first time in 40 years. The team’s only conference loss was at the hands of national champion LSU. 

Prior to accepting the job at Ole Miss, Knowles spent six seasons at Western Michigan University, where he served his last two years as defensive coordinator. He coached the WMU linebackers in 2002 after working the previous five seasons with the defensive line. 

In his second year as defensive coordinator, Knowles helped the 2002 Broncos finish first in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and 28th nationally in total defense (330.7), playing a schedule that included three Top 25 teams. The defensive unit, which included MAC Defensive Player of the Year Jason Babin, ranked second in the MAC in pass sacks (33) and pass defense (179.5). Babin went on to become Western Michigan’s first-ever first round NFL pick (Houston Texans). The WMU defense held three teams to less than 100 yards rushing and limited three others to less than 100 yards passing. The Broncos held opponents to 217 first downs, fewest in the MAC, and the defensive line extended its quarterback sack streak to 33 games. 

Knowles’ first year as defensive coordinator in 2001 saw the Broncos rank first in pass defense (179.8 yards per game) in the MAC and 17th nationally. WMU also paced the MAC with quarterback sacks (33). His defensive line unit was rated as the second-best in the league by one preseason publication as All-MAC performers Anthony Allsbury (first-team) and Jason Babin (second-team) ranked among the top eight players in sacks.

Prior to being named defensive coordinator at Western Michigan on Jan. 17, 2001, Knowles worked exclusively with the down linemen. During the 2000 season, his defensive line unit was partially responsible for helping the Broncos compile 38 sacks and 15 forced fumbles in 12 games. In addition, the Broncos held opponents to 139 points and posted three shutouts — the most scoreless games since 1971. By season’s end, Western Michigan ranked among NCAA Top 20 units in four categories: scoring defense (fourth, 11.5 ppg.), total defense (ninth, 283.3 ypg.), pass defense (13th, 178.0 ypg.) and rushing defense (20th, 105.3 ypg.). 

Two of Knowles’ players, Allsbury and Chris Browning, earned All-MAC first and second team honors, respectively, as first-year starters. 

In 1999, Knowles worked closely with Jeremy Johnson, who went on to earn All-MAC honorable mention. He also developed a two-time all-league selection in Dan Falcon (1997-98) and the MAC’s leading sack artist in 1997 with all-league pick Ryan Bauer. 

During Knowles’ six seasons at WMU, the Brown & Gold generated 207 sacks — including a high of 41 in 1997 — which averages to 34.5 per season.

A three-year letter winner at defensive end as a player for Cornell, Knowles earned All-Ivy honors and honorable mention All-Eastern College Athletic Conference accolades in 1986. He graduated in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree from the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. 

Knowles, a Philadelphia, Pa., native, earned All-Catholic and All-City honors as a linebacker at St. Joseph’s Prep. He also competed in crew and wrestling. 

Knowles and his wife, Nancy ’83 (MBA ’89), have a daughter, Halle, and two sons, Luke and Jack. 

*Updated July 1, 2009