When D’Anton Lynn walked back into the Lasch Building, it wasn’t just a return to where he played college ball-it was a full-circle moment, more than a decade in the making. The last time he’d stepped foot inside Penn State’s football facilities was in 2015 as a Buffalo Bills assistant during Pro Day. Now, he’s back for real, this time as the Nittany Lions’ new defensive coordinator-a job he passed on just a year ago.
So what changed?
“I feel like everything's a family decision at this point,” Lynn said. “Me and my wife just felt like we were more prepared this time around.”
That readiness came with a renewed sense of purpose, sparked by conversations with head coach Matt Campbell. For Lynn, Campbell’s vision for the program wasn’t just compelling-it echoed the very reasons he chose Penn State as a player. That connection, that cultural alignment, was enough to pull him back to Happy Valley.
But make no mistake, this wasn’t an easy move. Lynn and his family had built a life in Los Angeles over the past three years.
His wife is from there. They’ve got three kids under the age of three.
Uprooting a young family and moving across the country is no small task. And then there’s the emotional side-leaving behind players at USC he’s coached and mentored over the past two seasons.
Campbell made it clear that Lynn didn’t take the job for financial gain. In fact, he gave up “some things financially” to be part of this staff. That speaks volumes about Lynn’s commitment-not just to the role, but to the program.
What’s helping ease the transition? Familiar faces.
Guys like Alan Zemaitis, now Director of Talent Acquisition, and Jordan Hill, Director of Player Development, were around during Lynn’s playing days. That continuity, that sense of home, has made the return a little smoother.
“Just all the Penn State people that were here-some I played with, some were on staff-I just knew I was familiar with the culture,” Lynn said. “I think that helped.”
He’s also had support from former teammates. Matt McGloin, his old roommate and now a local resident, has been in regular contact. According to Lynn, McGloin lives “right down the road” and “will be out here a lot.”
Still, the job itself is just getting started. With much of the coaching staff out on the road recruiting the 2027 class, Lynn hasn’t had a ton of time to fully connect with his players or install his system. But he’s already working closely with veteran assistant Terry Smith, who’s been instrumental in helping Lynn get up to speed-especially with players who don’t have much film yet.
Smith’s presence-and his relationship with Lynn-was a key factor in Campbell’s confidence in the hire. But it wasn’t just familiarity that sold the staff on Lynn. His track record speaks for itself.
At both UCLA and USC, Lynn’s defenses showed a clear identity: physical, disciplined, and adaptable. Campbell praised Lynn’s ability to bring consistency to a defense while also adjusting to the flow of the game.
“I think the thing that I love about D’Anton Lynn is his variability, his ability to have consistency,” Campbell said. “You saw that at UCLA, you saw that at USC-the improvement they made during his time there. But you also saw the ability to structurally dictate and navigate the pace of the game.”
Still, Lynn isn’t coming in with a plug-and-play mentality. He’s not here to force a USC-style scheme onto a new roster. Instead, he’s taking a more tailored approach-one built around the strengths of his players.
“We want to really just build around what these guys do best,” Lynn explained. “I try not to just be a system guy where, ‘this is what we're going to do no matter what.’
Let’s really see what these guys do best. Let’s build a scheme around that.”
It’s a philosophy rooted in adaptability, not rigidity. Lynn knows that schemes can-and should-evolve based on personnel.
But the way his defense plays? That has to be the constant.
“The scheme can change week to week, year to year,” he said. “But as far as how we play, that has to be the same.”
That mindset-flexible yet disciplined-could be exactly what Penn State needs as it looks to take the next step defensively. Lynn’s back in blue and white, and while the building may look different, the mission remains the same: build a defense that plays fast, smart, and tough-week in, week out.