A Penn State letterman won’t be returning home to be the Nittany Lions’ new defensive coordinator.
D’Anton Lynn, a candidate for Penn State’s opening at defensive coordinator, has signed a contract extension with USC. ESPN’s Pete Thamel broke the news on Thursday night.
Lynn was on James Franklin’s list of candidates, possibly at the top, as the Nittany Lions look to replace Tom Allen, who left for the same role at Clemson earlier this week.
Lynn, 35, is a rising star in the coaching industry. The Penn State letterman spent time as an NFL assistant with the Jets, Bills, Chargers, Texans and Ravens before coordinating UCLA’s defense in 2023. UCLA ranked 10th in total defense and seventh in sacks.
Lynn took over as USC’s DC this past season. The Trojans ranked 98th in pass defense and 53rd in run defense. But as Franklin noted before playing USC, Lynn was tasked with “changing that defensive identity” after the Trojans were awful in 2023.
Lynn has seemingly parlayed the Penn State interest into a new deal with USC. Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley values him immensely, and that shows with his contract extension.
Now, Franklin and Penn State must turn elsewhere. Anthony Poindexter, the team’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach, is an option. A name outside the program to keep an eye on? Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines.
After weeks of speculation and anticipation, it has been officially announced that Penn State letterman and defensive coordinator candidate, Sean Spencer, is now off the board. Spencer, who has been considered a top contender for the position, has decided to pursue other opportunities outside of Penn State.
Spencer, who played for the Nittany Lions in the early 1990s, has been a key member of the coaching staff for the past six seasons. His aggressive and innovative defensive schemes have helped Penn State become one of the top defensive units in the country.
While it is disappointing to see Spencer leave the program, Penn State fans can take solace in the fact that head coach James Franklin is known for his ability to attract top coaching talent. The search for a new defensive coordinator is already underway, and there is no doubt that Franklin will find a qualified candidate to fill the void left by Spencer’s departure.
As we bid farewell to Sean Spencer, we thank him for his contributions to the program and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors. Penn State football will continue to strive for excellence, both on and off the field, as we look ahead to the upcoming season.
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