Tim Walton Promoted to Assistant Head Coach; Jim Knowles, Larry Johnson and Keenan Bailey Also Receive Contract Extensions

Ohio State promoted Walton to assistant head coach and gave him a two-year contract extension through the 2026 season, per a team release.

Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, defensive line coach Larry Johnson and tight ends coach Keenan Bailey also received contract extensions. Knowles received a two-year contract extension through the 2026 season, Johnson received a two-year contract extension through the 2025 season and Bailey received a one-year contract extension through 2025.

Walton's cornerback development and recruiting acumen make his elevation no surprise. Ohio State boasted the No. 1 pass defense in all of college football last season, giving up 145.9 yards per game, in large part thanks to cornerbacks Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun and Jordan Hancock.

Those three cornerbacks – Hancock started at nickel – combined for 19 pass breakups and three interceptions last season.

Walton has also been stockpiling talent to maintain such elite play from his group. He signed two of the 247Sports composite's top 10 cornerbacks in the recruiting class of 2024, both top-70 overall prospects in four-star Bryce West and five-star Aaron Scott Jr. That's nothing compared to his start in the 2025 recruiting cycle; both of the nation's top two cornerbacks – five-stars Devin Sanchez and Na'eem Offord – have committed to play at Ohio State, and the Buckeyes also have a pledge from the nation's No. 10 cornerback, Blake Woodby.

All of that goes without saying the instrumental role Walton played in landing former Alabama safety Caleb Downs, the No. 1 transfer portal prospect in the country.

Knowles receives his extension after piloting the Buckeyes to have the nation's No. 2 scoring and No. 3 total defense in 2023. He was brought in two years ago to fix a maligned defensive unit that finished Nos. 38 and 59 in those same categories in 2021.

Johnson's extension is of particular interest as Ohio State's long-time defensive line coach is thought to be nearing retirement. His new deal keeps him under contract for two more seasons. The Buckeyes' top five defensive linemen combined to produce 33.5 tackles for loss and 18 sacks in 2023.

Bailey capped his first year as a full-time assistant in 2023 after serving seven seasons in other roles for Ohio State as an intern and quality control coach. Under his tutelage, Cade Stover set a school record for receiving yards by a Buckeye tight end with 576.