Penn State hiring Jim Knowles could begin Virginia Tech dominos to fall in hiring new defensive coordinator

It has been six weeks since Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry fired three assistant coaches. One of those coaches was defensive coordinator Chris Marve. Since the move, things have been very quiet in the hiring process. Former Hokies' defensive coordinator Bud Foster joined the team and was an advisor for the Duke's Mayo Bowl against Minnesota and will be around the program moving forward, but not as a DC.

Shawn Quinn handled the defensive coordinator duties in the bowl game, a 24-10, loss to the Golden Gophers, but in the three weeks since the game, there has been no news on the the hiring front. However, a moe made on Sunday might trigger more dominos that could lead to a hiring by Pry.

Jim Knowles leaves Ohio State for Penn State

Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen left the Nittany Lions after their loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinal to assume the same position as Dabo Swinney at Clemson. Penn State Co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Anthony Poindexter was seen as a potential replacement for James Franklin, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is reportedly leaving the Buckeyes, who beat Notre Dame for the CP title last Monday night to take over for Allen at Penn State and he will reportedly get $3.1 million. That leaves the door open for Poindexter to become available for the Virginia Tech open DC position.

Poindexter has been linked to Virginia Tech and with him being passed over by Franklin makes it more interesting to see if this drives him to Blacksburg. Pry is taking his time in hiring his next coordinator on the defensive side of the ball as he needs to get this hire correct as he is entering what feels like a make-or-break season for him in Blacksburg.