For the third time in four years, Penn State football is searching for a new defensive coordinator.
Following the 2021 season, Brent Pry departed for the head coaching position at Virginia Tech.
After two offseasons, Manny Diaz accepted the head coaching position at Duke.
Now, following only one season, Tom Allen is advancing to become the defensive coordinator at Clemson.
Many found this surprising since coach James Franklin has openly stated his disapproval of his assistants taking lateral moves.
However, that’s what occurred here, and Allen’s tenure at Penn State proved to be rather short.
Currently, the inquiry is: who will fill his position at Penn State?
I will divide this into three sections.
CANDIDATES FROM WITHIN
Anthony Poindexter, coach for safeties and co-defensive coordinator
If Penn State decides to promote from within— a practice it hasn’t followed since Pry took over for Bob Shoop before the 2016 season— Anthony Poindexter is likely the leading candidate. Some believed Poindexter, who has served as Penn State’s safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator since 2021, was deserving of a promotion last offseason when Allen secured the position. Following yet another season showcasing outstanding safety performances— with Jaylen Reed rising to the occasion for the injured Kevin Winston Jr. and Zakee Wheatley emerging as one of Penn State’s top defensive athletes by season’s conclusion— Poindexter’s reputation remains strong.
That being noted, Poindexter has previously been overlooked by James Franklin, so it’s uncertain whether the coach thinks he’s prepared. However, Poindexter’s history of safety development, along with the regard his players hold for him and his prior experience as a full-time defensive coordinator (at Connecticut from 2014-16), makes him a candidate worth considering.
Dan Connor, coordinator of analytics and defensive analysis
08 September 2007: Penn State linebacker Dan Connor (40) tackles Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen (7) as Chris Baker (93) and Jerome Hayes (5) also converge. In his initial collegiate start, Clausen was sacked 6 times. On September 8, 2007, the Penn State Nittany Lions triumphed over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with a score of 31-10 at Beaver Stadium located in State College, PA.
To echo Lin Manuel-Miranda’s portrayal of Alexander Hamilton, Connor has “plenty of intellect but lacks refinement.”
Alright, the “no polish” aspect is likely unjust. Connor has been coaching for nearly ten years, primarily at the high school and small college levels. However, regarding significant college coaching experience, Connor possesses only three years, all of which have been as an analyst. His responsibilities have grown over the years, and in 2024, he dedicated much time to assisting Allen in coaching the linebackers and even took charge of making defensive calls for the majority of the season. Beginning in Week 4, Connor became the one signaling, which MIKE linebacker Kobe King received in his headset and communicated to the other 10 defenders.
Connor is supported by at least one Penn State letterman.
“I’m the first to state that this position should belong to Dan Connor,” former OL Landon Tengwall shared on X (formerly Twitter) Monday morning. “That feline is prepared for it.” He shapes individuals and was among those who developed Penn State into its current state.
Connor is also regarded as one of the top players in Penn State history, having received the Chuck Bednarik Award for the best defensive player and achieved consensus All-American status in 2007. However, is he prepared to take on the role of a coordinator? That decision is up to Franklin.
Deion Barnes, coach for the defensive line
A name that appears to be rarely mentioned is Barnes, who has been a full-time college coach for just two seasons. However, what renders Barnes a wild card is that Franklin never anticipated hiring him for his present position.
After that, the interview took place, and Barnes excelled.
“We spoke with him, and it was likely one of those interviews where you talk to someone just to ensure you have everything accounted for,” Franklin noted. “We spoke with him along with several experienced college coaches and numerous seasoned NFL coaches, and he impressed them all tremendously.” He excelled in the interview. From then on, I began viewing Deion as a real contender for this role.
Since that time, Barnes has primarily guided what may be the finest defensive line in college football. Does he require additional refinement? Likely. However, Barnes has astonished individuals— including Franklin— previously. Perhaps another is needed?
THE OUTSIDERS
Jim Knowles, Defensive Coordinator at Ohio State
Hold on, what? Is it possible for Penn State, a team that has dropped 12 of its last 13 matches against Ohio State, to actually take their defensive coordinator? Perhaps. It all hinges on how much Pat Kraft is ready to spend, and whether Ohio State would permit PSU to interview Knowles, who is coaching in the national championship game on Jan. 20.
Al Golden, defensive coordinator of Notre Dame
This is less surprising than Knowles simply because Golden played for Joe Paterno at Penn State. Since that time, he has served as a Group of Five head coach, a Power Five head coach, an NFL assistant, and most recently, a major college defensive coordinator. Golden and Notre Dame have just shattered Penn State’s hopes in the Orange Bowl. As it appears that head coach Marcus Freeman will remain, Al is in a— pun entirely intended— fortunate position at Penn State. It would require a significant effort to persuade him to depart, but perhaps Golden’s connections to Happy Valley could render him a bit cheaper than Knowles.
D’Anton Lynn
Another Penn State individual who is coaching in a different location. At 35, Lynn is a rising star, yet he possesses significant refinement. Lynn served as UCLA’s defensive coordinator in 2023 and performed sufficiently to advance to LA’s more prestigious program the following year. In 2024, USC had the 56th-ranked scoring offense and the 77th-ranked defense. That doesn’t appear to be good. However, in comparison to 2023, when it was 121st in scoring defense and 119th in total defense (out of 133 FBS teams), it showed significant improvement. Lynn is an emerging talent who doesn’t yet have much in his portfolio compared to individuals like Diaz and Allen. However, he’s youthful, determined, and eager (yet another nod to Hamilton). Perhaps he deserves a chance (all right, I assure you I’m finished now).
THE UNPREDICTABLE ELEMENT
Pat Fitzgerald, ex-head coach of Northwestern
Hmm. Fitzgerald has not served as a coordinator and has not been involved in coaching since a dramatic dismissal following the 2022 season. At just 50, it’s difficult to believe he’ll remain out of coaching indefinitely. Might Franklin and Penn State act as a “coaching recovery” option for him? It’s an idea. However, Fitzgerald’s inexperience as a full-time defensive coordinator, along with the conditions of his exit, could render it unlikely.
Penn State kicks off the 2025 season versus Nevada on Aug. 30 at Beaver Stadium.
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