It’s official: D’Anton Lynn, the architect behind USC’s recent defensive turnaround, is heading back to his alma mater, Penn State, as the Nittany Lions’ new defensive coordinator. The move, confirmed on December 29, 2025, marks a significant shift for both programs as they gear up for pivotal seasons ahead. Lynn will join new head coach Matt Campbell’s staff in Happy Valley after coaching USC in the upcoming Alamo Bowl against TCU.
Lynn’s journey to this high-profile role is a story of both loyalty and ambition. Once a standout cornerback at Penn State from 2008 to 2011—earning three Big Ten honorable mentions—Lynn went on to play two years of professional football before jumping into coaching. His career began with a 2014 internship for the New York Jets and spanned nine seasons as a defensive assistant in the NFL, including stints with the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, and Baltimore Ravens. His NFL pedigree, coupled with his collegiate successes, has made him one of the most sought-after defensive minds in college football.
After his NFL run, Lynn made a splash at UCLA in 2023, orchestrating an impressive defensive transformation. The Bruins jumped from 90th in the nation in scoring defense to 14th under his guidance. That success caught the eye of USC, who brought him on board as defensive coordinator in 2024. The Trojans’ defense, which had languished at 121st nationally in scoring under Alex Grinch, immediately improved. In Lynn’s first season, USC climbed to 56th, slashing points allowed per game from 34.4 to 24.1. The following year, the defense improved further, allowing just 22.42 points per game and finishing 47th nationally. USC’s third-down defense also shined in 2024, ranking second in the Big Ten at 33.5%, though it slipped to 38.7% in 2025.
Despite the progress, Lynn faced challenges in his second season. The Trojans struggled to stop the run and prevent big plays, especially in tough road losses to Illinois, Notre Dame, and Oregon. Lynn candidly addressed these issues in late November, noting, “The inexperience on defense changed the way I coached this season. I had to simplify my teachings for younger or less-experienced players.” Still, the overall improvement was undeniable, and Lynn’s reputation as a turnaround specialist only grew.
Penn State’s pursuit of Lynn has been persistent. Last offseason, then-head coach James Franklin targeted Lynn for the defensive coordinator position, but Lynn opted to stay at USC, receiving a lucrative extension that made him one of college football’s highest-paid assistants with a salary exceeding $2 million per year. This time, with the program in transition after Franklin’s firing and the hiring of Matt Campbell, Lynn decided to return home.
Campbell, who arrived in State College after a decade leading Iowa State, is assembling a staff loaded with Penn State ties. In addition to Lynn, former PSU player Terry Smith serves as associate head coach, and there’s speculation that Dan Connor, another alum, could join as linebackers coach. Lynn becomes Campbell’s first defensive coordinator, taking over a unit that slipped from a top-10 scoring defense from 2021 to 2024 to 31st nationally in 2024 under Jim Knowles. Knowles has since moved on to Tennessee after a single, uneven season in Happy Valley.
The stakes are high for both Penn State and USC. The Nittany Lions, fresh off a four-game winning streak capped by a 22-10 Pinstripe Bowl victory over Clemson, are eager to reclaim their defensive dominance. Lynn’s familiarity with the program and proven ability to revitalize struggling units make him a key hire as Penn State enters a new era under Campbell. “Lynn has orchestrated two reclamation projects during his time as a college defensive coordinator,” observed The Athletic. “Penn State has a good track record on defense dating back many years, so the starting point with the Nittany Lions, theoretically, should be better than when he took over at UCLA and USC.”
For USC, Lynn’s departure leaves head coach Lincoln Riley searching for his third defensive coordinator in four years—a daunting task as the Trojans aim for College Football Playoff contention in 2026. Riley, widely regarded as one of the sport’s brightest offensive minds, has struggled to find the same consistency on the defensive side since bringing Grinch from Oklahoma. With Lynn’s exit, speculation has swirled around former Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski as a potential replacement, though nothing has been confirmed. There’s also uncertainty about the future of other defensive assistants, including Rob Ryan, who joined USC in part because of Lynn. As the coaching carousel spins, staff retention versus continuity has become a hot topic among Trojan faithful.
Despite the coaching upheaval, USC will retain starting quarterback Jayden Maiava, who declined to enter the NFL draft, providing some stability for the Trojans’ offense. The team enters the Alamo Bowl against TCU with a 9-3 record, following a combined 15-11 mark over the previous two seasons. Defensive improvement will be crucial if the Trojans hope to meet the rising expectations of their fanbase and compete at the highest level in the Big Ten.
Lynn’s move is not just a homecoming—it’s a statement about the value of experience, adaptability, and connection to a program’s culture. His father, Anthony Lynn, is an assistant coach for the Washington Commanders and former head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, underscoring the football pedigree that runs deep in the Lynn family. As D’Anton Lynn prepares to take the reins of Penn State’s defense, all eyes will be on how quickly he can restore the Nittany Lions to their former defensive glory.
Meanwhile, the drama is far from over in Los Angeles. With the Alamo Bowl on the horizon and no interim defensive coordinator named, USC faces immediate challenges both on the field and in the recruiting wars. The Trojans boast the nation’s top recruiting class for 2026, but as The Athletic cautioned, “It would be unwise to rely on young players in the Big Ten. Whoever the new DC is will have to get the most out of what’s already on the roster.”
Adding another layer of intrigue, USC is scheduled to visit Penn State next season, setting up a high-stakes reunion between Lynn and his former team. The anticipation is already building—will Lynn’s new-look Nittany Lions defense have the edge, or will Riley’s Trojans find a way to break through?
For now, both programs are in transition, but one thing is clear: D’Anton Lynn’s return to Penn State is set to shake up the Big Ten and could redefine the defensive landscape for years to come.
