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2h ago

Penn State to Hire USC’s D’Anton Lynn as Defensive Coordinator

The former Nittany Lions defensive back returns after leading notable defensive turnarounds at UCLA, then USC.

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Defensive Coordinator D'Anton Lynn of the USC Trojans reacts against the Michigan State Spartans during the third quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 20, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Lynn has informed USC he is accepting the defensive coordinator job at Penn State under first-year coach Matt Campbell, according to reports from CBS Sports and the Los Angeles Times.
  • He is set to coach in Tuesday’s Alamo Bowl before departing, leaving USC to begin an immediate search for its next defensive coordinator.
  • A Penn State alumnus who played defensive back from 2008 to 2011, Lynn spent nine seasons as an NFL assistant before coordinating defenses at UCLA in 2023 and USC in 2024–25.
  • USC’s scoring defense improved from 34.4 points allowed per game in 2023 to about 24 points under Lynn, while his UCLA unit rose to 14th nationally in scoring defense in 2023.
  • Lynn replaces Jim Knowles, who left for Tennessee, making this Penn State’s fourth defensive coordinator in four years as Campbell continues building his staff.