Penn State to hire former Nittany Lion as its defensive coordinator

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The first defensive coordinator of the Matt Campbell era at Penn State will be a familiar name for Nittany Lion fans.

USC defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn is set to be hired as Penn State's defensive coordinator, replacing Jim Knowles, who left to take the same role at Tennessee. Lynn was a cornerback at Penn State from 2008-2011, making 37 career starts and totaling four interceptions.

Lynn started his coaching career as a defensive assistant with the Buffalo Bills in 2015, and he was a defensive assistant for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017. He would later serve as the secondary coach for the Houston Texans in 2020 and for the Baltimore Ravens in 2022. His first collegiate coaching gig came at UCLA in 2023, where he helped build a top 10 defense in the nation.

USC hired Lynn in 2024 in hopes of shoring up its defense, and the Trojans made immediate improvements. In 2024, Lynn's unit ranked 21st in the nation in third-down defense, 58th in takeaways, and 69th in red-zone defense. USC's defense remained solid in 2025, ranking 49th in yards allowed per game and giving up 22.4 points per game (48th nationally).

Lynn's hiring will make him the fourth new defensive coordinator for Penn State in as many years, following Manny Diaz (2022-23), Tom Allen (2024), and Jim Knowles (2025).

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State to hire D'Anton Lynn as defensive coordinator

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