Staff Directory
Knowles, Jeff
Jeff Knowles
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
- Phone:
- 765-285-8251
- Email:
- Years at Ball State:
- 2nd season in 2025
- Years Coaching:
- 18th season in 2025
Jeff Knowles was hired as Ball State's defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach on Jan. 4, 2024. Under the direction of Mike Uremovich, he assumes responsibility for the Cardinals' full linebacking corps.
“Jeff’s defenses have been respected at every stop of his career,” said former Ball State coach Mike Neu when Knowles was hired. “We encountered first-hand the great job that he did at NIU. He has a great reputation, especially here in the Midwest, and I am excited to see our defense continue to evolve under his leadership.”
Knowles made a return to the Mid-American Conference while joining the Ball State coaching staff. He spent the previous two seasons guiding defensive efforts at Butler where he shaped the Bulldogs into one of the best defenses in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Butler was among FCS leaders in red zone defense and finished in the top 10 in scoring defense and top 25 in total defense. He was tabbed the defensive coordinator at Butler in January of 2022 and was promoted to assistant head coach prior to the 2023 campaign. In his first season at Butler, Knowles called the defense for Butler’s 31-0 shutout victory over Dayton. The result snapped Dayton’s longest scoring streak in Division I football (501 games). It also doubled as the first shutout of Knowles’ collegiate coaching career.
Knowles has a pedigree of success that includes stints at St. Francis, NC State, NIU, Temple and Butler. At each of those stops and, since the fifth grade, one of his best friends has been Uremovich. The duo played together at Providence Catholic High School in Lenox, Illinois, and Ball State marks the sixth different institution at which the pair has plied their coaching trade together. At NIU and Temple, Knowles was the defensive coordinator while Uremovich called the plays on offense. Counting St. Francis and Butler, Ball State is the third school at which Knowles has coached defense for Uremovich as head coach.
Prior to his stint at Butler, Knowles and Uremovich followed head coach Rod Carey from NIU to Temple, where Knowles worked as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2019 through 2021.
Before joining the Owls, Knowles spent two seasons on the defensive staff at Northern Illinois University where he was hired as the linebacker coach in 2017, and then added the defensive coordinator title in 2018. NIU’s defense ranked second in the country with a school-record 50 sacks. They were also ranked third in the country with 2.7 rushing yards per carry and had the MAC's best scoring defense with 20.6 points per game allowed. Knowles also helped back-to-back All-American defensive end Sutton Smith lead the FBS in sacks with 15 and was second in the country with 24.5 tackles for loss. Smith and linebacker Antonio Jones-Davis also received All-MAC honors for their work under Knowles’ defense.
In Knowles' first year on the defensive staff in 2017, the Huskies enjoyed one of the top defensive seasons in recent history as NIU led the Mid-American Conference in total defense and scoring defense and broke the school record for most punts forced by its opponents. NIU led all FBS schools in tackles for loss and ranked second nationally in quarterback sacks.
Previously, Knowles oversaw defensive quality control at NC State for three seasons, 2014-16, helping the Wolfpack to three straight bowl appearances, winning two. He also spent six seasons at his alma mater, the University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Illinois. He coached the defensive line and linebackers, served as recruiting coordinator and was defensive coordinator from 2012-13.
A native of Manhattan, Illinois, Knowles played at the college level at St. Francis from 1996-2000, serving as team captain his final two seasons. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from St. Francis and completed his master’s degree in education from the university in 2010.
As a prep player, he was a first team all-state linebacker on the Providence Catholic High team that won the state championship with an undefeated season in 1994.
Knowles and his wife, Sarah, have two sons, Gannon and Emmett.
“Jeff’s defenses have been respected at every stop of his career,” said former Ball State coach Mike Neu when Knowles was hired. “We encountered first-hand the great job that he did at NIU. He has a great reputation, especially here in the Midwest, and I am excited to see our defense continue to evolve under his leadership.”
Knowles made a return to the Mid-American Conference while joining the Ball State coaching staff. He spent the previous two seasons guiding defensive efforts at Butler where he shaped the Bulldogs into one of the best defenses in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Butler was among FCS leaders in red zone defense and finished in the top 10 in scoring defense and top 25 in total defense. He was tabbed the defensive coordinator at Butler in January of 2022 and was promoted to assistant head coach prior to the 2023 campaign. In his first season at Butler, Knowles called the defense for Butler’s 31-0 shutout victory over Dayton. The result snapped Dayton’s longest scoring streak in Division I football (501 games). It also doubled as the first shutout of Knowles’ collegiate coaching career.
Knowles has a pedigree of success that includes stints at St. Francis, NC State, NIU, Temple and Butler. At each of those stops and, since the fifth grade, one of his best friends has been Uremovich. The duo played together at Providence Catholic High School in Lenox, Illinois, and Ball State marks the sixth different institution at which the pair has plied their coaching trade together. At NIU and Temple, Knowles was the defensive coordinator while Uremovich called the plays on offense. Counting St. Francis and Butler, Ball State is the third school at which Knowles has coached defense for Uremovich as head coach.
Prior to his stint at Butler, Knowles and Uremovich followed head coach Rod Carey from NIU to Temple, where Knowles worked as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2019 through 2021.
Before joining the Owls, Knowles spent two seasons on the defensive staff at Northern Illinois University where he was hired as the linebacker coach in 2017, and then added the defensive coordinator title in 2018. NIU’s defense ranked second in the country with a school-record 50 sacks. They were also ranked third in the country with 2.7 rushing yards per carry and had the MAC's best scoring defense with 20.6 points per game allowed. Knowles also helped back-to-back All-American defensive end Sutton Smith lead the FBS in sacks with 15 and was second in the country with 24.5 tackles for loss. Smith and linebacker Antonio Jones-Davis also received All-MAC honors for their work under Knowles’ defense.
In Knowles' first year on the defensive staff in 2017, the Huskies enjoyed one of the top defensive seasons in recent history as NIU led the Mid-American Conference in total defense and scoring defense and broke the school record for most punts forced by its opponents. NIU led all FBS schools in tackles for loss and ranked second nationally in quarterback sacks.
Previously, Knowles oversaw defensive quality control at NC State for three seasons, 2014-16, helping the Wolfpack to three straight bowl appearances, winning two. He also spent six seasons at his alma mater, the University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Illinois. He coached the defensive line and linebackers, served as recruiting coordinator and was defensive coordinator from 2012-13.
A native of Manhattan, Illinois, Knowles played at the college level at St. Francis from 1996-2000, serving as team captain his final two seasons. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from St. Francis and completed his master’s degree in education from the university in 2010.
As a prep player, he was a first team all-state linebacker on the Providence Catholic High team that won the state championship with an undefeated season in 1994.
Knowles and his wife, Sarah, have two sons, Gannon and Emmett.
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