Ohio State will pay a record salary to incoming defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

According to The Columbus Dispatch’s Bill Rabinowitz, the Buckeye program will pay Knowles a base salary of $1.9 million per year on his 3-year deal with the program. It’ll make him the highest-paid assistant coach in school history, surpassing former coordinator Greg Schiano’s $1.5 million annual salary.

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Knowles was hired away from Oklahoma State on Tuesday. The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy reported Friday that Knowles will not coach the Cowboys in their Fiesta Bowl game against Notre Dame.

Oklahoma State reportedly offered Knowles $1.3 million a year to stay in Stillwater, an increase from his $800,000 salary, but it would seem the Buckeyes’ offer was too good to pass up. He’ll begin at Ohio State on Jan. 2.

Under Knowles, the Cowboys fielded one of the best defenses in the country this season. Oklahoma State allowed just 4.4 yards per play, the 4th-best mark in all of football. It also allowed only 16.8 points per game, the 7th-best mark in the country. The Cowboys were nearly a full yard better on a per-play basis and a touchdown better than the previous season, a remarkable step forward.

On the flip side, Ohio State allowed 5.2 yards per play this season (38th) and 20.9 points per game (25th).