UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Football announced the addition of D’Anton Lynn [DAN-ton] to its staff as the Nittany Lions’ defensive coordinator. Lynn makes his return to Happy Valley, lettering with the football team from 2008 to 2011.
Lynn comes to Penn State following a two-year stint as the defensive coordinator for USC. Prior to the Trojans, he was the defensive coordinator at UCLA for one season following a nine-year career coaching in the NFL.
He was a three-time All-Big Ten honorable mention cornerback for the Nittany Lions. Over his career, he appeared in 47 games and started 37 of his final 38, recording 162 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, four interceptions, and one fumble recovery. In 2010, he ranked second on the team with 75 total tackles and tied for the team lead with three interceptions, highlighting his impact as a consistent and reliable presence in the secondary.
D’ANTON LYNN – DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Lynn, who has experience coaching at both the collegiate and NFL levels, joins the Nittany Lions following a two-year stint as USC's defensive coordinator.
- Since 2023, Lynn’s only year as a defensive coordinator with the UCLA Bruins, he is fifth among defensive coordinators in yards per completions (10.48) and red zone rush touchdown percentage (25.0%), eighth in fewest fourth quarter points allowed per game (4.74), and 10th in fewest rush touchdowns per season (12.0) and red zone touchdown percentage (51.61%).
- During the 2025 season, USC ranks second in the Big Ten in red zone defense (73.7%; 13th nationally) and third down conversion defense (33.5%; 21st).
- First-team All-American safety Bishop Fitzgerald ranks second nationally in interceptions per game in 2025 (0.5) and is fifth in total interceptions (5), while linebacker Eric Gentry ranks third nationally in forced fumbles per game (0.42).
- In Lynn’s first season with the Trojans, USC held opponents to an average of just 24.1 points per game, improving from 34.4 in 2023.
- The Trojans finished the 2024 season ranked second in the Big Ten and 21st nationally in third-down conversion percentage defense (33.5%), compared to ranking No. 106 (43.6%) in 2023.
- Safety Jaylin Smith earned All-Big Ten third-team honors, recording 59 tackles, including four tackles for loss and a team-leading 2 interceptions.
- Prior to USC, Lynn served as the defensive coordinator at UCLA in 2023, where he completely transformed the Bruin defense. He elevated UCLA's defense from ranking No. 87 in 2022 to finishing the 2023 regular season ranked No. 10 in the nation.
- Lynn's defense finished the regular season ranked first in the nation in rushing defense (69.6 yards per game), second in yards per rush allowed (2.33) and third in sacks per game (3.42).
- Opponents averaged just 299.0 yards per game, which was the lowest by a Bruin team since 1992 (297.8).
- Additionally, UCLA's 41 sacks ranked fourth nationally and were the most by a Bruin defense since 2012. The Bruins also ranked fourth in the nation in tackles for loss with 99.
- UCLA allowed multiple touchdowns in just five games in 2023, while holding nine of its opponents to 20 points or less and only allowing three rushing touchdowns all season.
- Lynn also tutored Bruin star DE Laiatu Latu, who led the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.8) and was fourth in sacks per game (1.08). Latu won the Lombardi Award and was a finalist for Bednarik Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
- Prior to arriving in Los Angeles, Lynn spent nine seasons in the NFL, where his final stint was as the safeties coach for the Baltimore Ravens for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
- In 2022, the Ravens surrendered just 18.5 points per game, which ranked third in the NFL. Lynn guided a position group that featured Chuck Clark, who piled up a career-high 101 total tackles, and Marcus Williams, who led the defense with four interceptions. He also developed rookie Kyle Hamilton, who collected 62 tackles.
- Lynn was also chosen as East head coach for the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas.
- He spent the 2020 season as the Houston Texans secondary coach after spending two years as their assistant secondary coach (2018-19).
- Houston won back-to-back AFC South championships in 2018 and 2019. The 2018 team gave up 19.8 points per game, which tied for the league's fourth-best mark. The Texans +13 turnover differential in 2018 still holds a franchise record and was second in the league. Safety Justin Reid excelled in the defensive backfield under Lynn, tallying 249 total tackles and 5 interceptions in 41 games.
- In 2017, Lynn held a defensive assistant role with the Los Angeles Chargers when his father, Anthony Lynn, was the head coach. He worked primarily with a linebacker group that contributed to the NFL's best red zone defense. The Chargers defense gave up the third-fewest points per game at 17.0 and was tied for fifth in sacks with 43. Joey Bosa (12.5, seventh) and Melvin Ingram (10.5, 15th) were each listed among the league leaders for sacks.
- Lynn was an assistant with the Buffalo Bills from 2015-16. He coached a defense that finished fourth in both passing touchdowns allowed with 19 and opponent completion percentage of 59.9% in 2016. The 2015 squad tied for the league lead with 93 passes defended and held opponents to the third-lowest completion percentage of 57.6%.
- Lynn began his coaching career as an intern for the New York Jets in 2014 and prior to that, worked for the scouting department with the Jets in 2013.
PLAYING CAREER
- Lynn was a three-time All-Big Ten honorable mention cornerback for the Nittany Lions.
- While playing for the Nittany Lions from 2008-11, he recorded 162 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, four interceptions and one fumble recovery in 47 games, while starting 37 of his last 38 played.
- In 2010, Lynn was second among the Nittany Lions with 75 total tackles and tied for the team lead with three interceptions.
- He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2012 before finishing his playing career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League in 2013.
PERSONAL
- A native of Celina, Texas, Lynn earned his degree in communication arts and sciences from Penn State in 2012.
- He and his wife, Cortney, have three children, two sons, Anthony and Lonnie, and a girl, Remi.
- His father, Anthony, currently serves as the run game coordinator and running backs coach for the Washington Commanders and has coached in the NFL for more than 25 years.
THE LYNN FILE
Personal
Year at Penn State: 1st
Hometown: Celina, Texas
Education: Penn State, 2012 – B.A. Communication Arts and Sciences
Family: Wife: Courtney; Sons: Anthony, Lonnie; Daughter: Remi
Coaching Career
2026-: Penn State [Defensive Coordinator]
2024-25: USC [Defensive Coordinator]
2023: UCLA [Defensive Coordinator]
2021-22: Baltimore Ravens [Safeties]
2020: Houston Texans [Secondary]
2018-19: Houston Texans [Assistant Secondary]
2017: Los Angeles Chargers [Defensive Assistant]
2015-16: Buffalo Bills [Defensive Assistant]
2014: New York Jets [Coaching Intern]
Playing Experience
2013: Hamilton Tiger-Cats
2012: New York Jets
2009-12: Penn State
Postseason as a Coach
2025: Alamo Bowl [USC; did not coach in bowl]
2024: Las Vegas Bowl [USC]
2023: LA Bowl [UCLA; did not coach in bowl]
2022: AFC Wild Card [Baltimore Ravens]
2019: AFC Divisional [Houston Texans]
2018: AFC Wild Card [Houston Texans]
Prominent Players Coached
Chuck Clark [Baltimore Ravens]: 33-game starter 2021-22
Kyle Hamilton [Baltimore Ravens]: Named to PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2022
Marlon Humphrey [Baltimore Ravens]: Named to the Pro Bowl in 2022
Laiatu Latu [UCLA]: Indianapolis Colts; 2024 first-round pick
Tyrann Mathieu [Houston Texans]: 16-game starter in 2020
Kain Medrano [UCLA]: Washington Commanders; 2025 sixth-round pick
Darius Muasau [UCLA]: New York Giants; 2024 sixth-round pick
Oluwafemi Oladejo [UCLA]: Tennessee Titans; 2025 second-round pick
Marcus Peters [Baltimore Ravens]: 13-game starter in 2022
Justin Reid [Houston Texans]: 40-game start 2018-20
Carson Schwesinger [UCLA]: Cleveland Browns; 2025 second-round pick
Jaylin Smith [USC]: Houston Texans; 2025 third-round pick
Jay Toia [UCLA]: Dallas Cowboys; 2024 seventh-round pick
Marcus Williams [Baltimore Ravens]: 10 starts and four interceptions in 2022
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and ticket information for the 2026 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.GoPSUsports.com, or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.