Duke adds new defensive coordinator

Duke coach David Cutcliffe announced on Monday that Jim Knowles will join the team's football staff as a defensive coordinator, while coach Marion Hobby was promoted to assistant head coach/defensive coordinator.

This announcement comes after the recent decision by defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre to take the head coaching job at San Jose State University. MacIntyre shared defensive coordinator responsibilities with Hobby, who was in charge of the defensive line.

Knowles, who served as the head coach at Cornell since 2004, will work with the safeties. He re-joins Cutcliffe's staff after a stint with the coach at Mississippi in 2003. He worked with five members of the current Duke staff during that time.

"I worked with much of the Duke staff at Ole Miss and we were very successful," Knowles said. "I'm looking forward to being with those guys again. I remember how enjoyable it was to go to work. You have a good time and you're able to challenge each other professionally with schemes on offense, defense and special teams. It is all about trust and selflessness when you have a great staff and that's what those guys have."

Knowles was 26-34 at Cornell as a head coach.

Added Cutcliffe: "We are thrilled to have Coach Knowles rejoin our staff. Jim played a big role in the success of our 2003 team at Ole Miss, so I know what we're getting in terms of his personality, work ethic and football knowledge. His understanding of defensive football is at the head of the class and our players will enjoy playing under his leadership. His experience as a head coach certainly will pay dividends within our program, and on top of his coaching abilities, we know he'll be a great fit on our staff because we're so familiar with each other."

Cutcliffe also promoted coach Jim Collins to assistant defensive coordinator/linebackers coach.