Penn State's D'Anton Lynn returns home, finds fit with Matt Campbell

The 36-year-old defensive coordinator is reuniting with his alma mater after stints at USC and UCLA.

Feb. 7, 2026 at 12:07pm

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D'Anton Lynn, a rising star in coaching, has returned to Penn State, his alma mater, as the defensive coordinator in Matt Campbell's first season as head coach. Lynn spent the last two seasons at USC and one before that at UCLA as the defensive coordinator. His decision to return to Penn State wasn't easy, but he felt it was the best move for him and his family.

Why it matters

Lynn's return to Penn State is significant as he is a rising star in the coaching world, having turned around the defenses at both UCLA and USC in recent years. His familiarity with the Penn State program and culture, as well as his strong relationship with new head coach Matt Campbell, make him an ideal fit to help lead the Nittany Lions' defense.

The details

After playing cornerback for the Nittany Lions from 2008-11, Lynn turned to coaching, working his way up through the NFL and college ranks. He was defensive coordinator at UCLA and USC before being lured back to Penn State by Campbell, who was impressed by Lynn's defensive schemes and leadership abilities. Lynn's decision to leave the West Coast was difficult due to his family's ties there, but he felt the opportunity at Penn State was the best move for his career.

  • Lynn played at Penn State from 2008-2011.
  • He spent the last two seasons as defensive coordinator at USC.
  • Lynn was the defensive coordinator at UCLA for one season before that.

The players

D'Anton Lynn

The 36-year-old is the new defensive coordinator at Penn State, returning to his alma mater after stints as defensive coordinator at USC and UCLA.

Matt Campbell

The new head coach at Penn State who hired Lynn as his defensive coordinator, impressed by Lynn's defensive schemes and leadership abilities.

Tom Bradley

The former Penn State defensive coordinator who coached Lynn during his playing days and remains a friend.

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What they’re saying

“From talking to some people that I have great respect for and to some of our own coaches that had come with me (from Iowa State), I just felt like Coach Lynn was the No. 1 target, for the style of defense we wanted to play, for somebody that understood Penn State football, that wanted to be here, that wanted to be a part of this program and that had a passion for Penn State.”

— Matt Campbell, Penn State Head Coach

“Man, it was awesome to get a chance to play for Scrap (Bradley). He was the position coach and the coordinator. He did a great job of always teaching us the big picture. We didn't just know what we had. We knew why he was making a call and how it affected the entire defense. I feel like it helped my football IQ skyrocket.”

— D'Anton Lynn, Penn State Defensive Coordinator

What’s next

Lynn and the Penn State defense will look to build on the progress made under the previous coaching staff as they prepare for the upcoming season under the new leadership of head coach Matt Campbell.

The takeaway

D'Anton Lynn's return to Penn State as defensive coordinator represents an exciting opportunity for the program, as they bring in a rising star in the coaching ranks who is intimately familiar with the school's culture and history. His partnership with new head coach Matt Campbell could help the Nittany Lions' defense take a major step forward in the coming years.