Anthony Poindexter is no stranger to stepping up when Penn State needs him most - and once again, he’s taking the reins of the defense.
When the Nittany Lions line up against Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 27, it’ll be Poindexter calling the shots from the sideline. The longtime safeties coach is filling in as defensive play-caller following the departure of Jim Knowles, who left for Tennessee after just one season in Happy Valley. It’s a familiar role for Poindexter, who’s now handling play-calling duties in his third bowl game over the last five seasons.
And if you ask his players, the defense is in good hands.
“He’s high energy,” said freshman safety King Mack. “He keeps it short, sweet and simple. And he’s open-minded - if there’s a call you like, he’ll hear you out.”
That kind of player-first leadership has been a hallmark of Poindexter’s coaching style since he arrived at Penn State in 2021. It’s also why he’s such a respected voice inside the program - both in the locker room and among his coaching peers.
This isn’t the first time Poindexter has stepped into the spotlight. He called the defense in the 2021 Outback Bowl and again in the 2023 Peach Bowl, stepping up after Brent Pry and Manny Diaz left for head coaching jobs.
Neither of those games ended in wins for Penn State, but both came with heavy roster turnover due to opt-outs. That could be a factor again this year, as defensive tackle Zane Durant and safety Zakee Wheatley have already announced they’re shifting their focus to the NFL Draft.
Still, Poindexter isn’t one to make excuses - and he’s not looking too far ahead either. After a turbulent season that included the midseason firing of James Franklin, he’s focused on the task at hand.
“Right now, I’m just concentrating on trying to finish out this season, doing my best,” Poindexter said in his final media appearance before Penn State’s Nov. 1 matchup against Ohio State. “As far as my future here at Penn State, who knows? We’re all just still coaching and trying to do our best.”
At that point, the Lions were sitting at 3-4 and heading into a brutal stretch that included top-ranked Ohio State and second-ranked Indiana. The season hadn’t gone as planned, but Poindexter made it clear the staff wasn’t going to fold.
“I think they’re going to follow our lead,” he said. “If we keep pushing forward, the kids will keep pushing forward.
At the end of the day, they came here to play football. It’s unfortunate the circumstance we find ourselves in, but they still get to go out and play football on Saturday.”
He added with a smile: “It’s hard when you’re young. It’s hard when you’re my age. But you just gotta have tunnel vision and muffins on your ears.”
That kind of perspective - equal parts grit and relatability - resonates with his players. Mack, who emerged as a starter under Poindexter this fall, said the 49-year-old coach has a unique ability to connect with his group.
“He puts himself in our shoes a lot,” Mack said. “He knows his players.
He knows our strengths and weaknesses. So he’s gonna put us in position to play fast and make plays.”
Poindexter’s coaching journey has taken him from his alma mater, Virginia - where he starred as an All-American safety and eventually coached for a decade - to UConn, Purdue, and now Penn State. He even interviewed for the head coaching job at Virginia a few years back.
And while he’s never held the full-time coordinator title at Penn State, he’s been in the conversation before. The program has opted for outside hires in recent years, bringing in Diaz, Tom Allen, and most recently Knowles.
With Matt Campbell now leading the Nittany Lions, the defensive staff is getting a bit of a shakeup. Former Iowa State safeties coach Deon Broomfield is joining the fold, and longtime cornerbacks coach Terry Smith - who served as interim head coach this season - is expected to stay on, though his exact role hasn’t been finalized. Meanwhile, Penn State still needs to name a full-time defensive coordinator for 2026.
Where that leaves Poindexter long-term is unclear. But if he does explore opportunities elsewhere, there’s no doubt he’d be a hot commodity as a safeties coach - and perhaps more.
For now, though, the focus is on finishing strong. Penn State has a chance to close out a rollercoaster season with a four-game win streak, and Poindexter’s leadership will be front and center as they prepare to face a Clemson team that’s averaging over 400 yards and 28 points per game behind quarterback Cade Klubnik.
“He’s doing a great job making sure we’re confident with the calls and playing fast and physical,” linebacker Dominic DeLuca said. “He’s ready for us to go out there and play our game.”
Kickoff is set for noon on Dec. 27 at Yankee Stadium. And while there are plenty of questions about the future, the present is all about one more game - and one more chance for Poindexter to lead this defense his way.