UCLA’s New Defensive Coordinator D’Anton Lynn: A Rising Star in College Football Coaching

Long has UCLA been on the hunt for a skilled defensive coordinator. From the times of Lou Spanos to DeWayne Walker, the coaching in this position has often fallen short. In a quest to find the right fit, Chip Kelly may have struck gold with the appointment of 33-year-old D’Anton Lynn. With the defense ranking almost 100th nationally last year, Lynn’s hiring aims to bolster the team’s defensive prowess. Impressive throughout, Lynn’s qualifications make him a standout candidate. Notably, he’s the son of Anthony Lynn, a current NFL coach, and himself played football at Penn State before transitioning into coaching.

Notably, College Football authority Bruce Feldman authored a piece for The Athletic outlining the top 30 assistant coaches to watch in 2023. In this list, D’Anton Lynn secured the 14th spot. His journey began in 2014 at just 25 years old, as he embarked on coaching roles with NFL teams. Given his background as a former defensive back, it’s no surprise that Lynn primarily focused on nurturing secondary professional athletes.

“The former Penn State DB spent the past decade in the NFL rising up the coaching ranks before Chip Kelly hired him to take over the Bruins defense. The 33-year-old Lynn, son of former Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn, has impressed Kelly and his colleagues with his ability to teach and connect with players. UCLA fans are hoping that’ll enable a program that has made a steady rise back into the Top 25 to take another big step up. The talent Lynn has to work with, especially in the front seven, is better than it’s been around Westwood since Kelly arrived.”

– Bruce Feldman on DC D’Anton Lynn (per The Athletic)

After interning with the Jets, Lynn’s journey led him to the Bills and Chargers as an assistant. His dedication and expertise eventually led him to become the Secondary coach for the Texans. Recent years saw him as the Safeties coach with the Ravens in Baltimore. As UCLA gears up for the upcoming season, Lynn’s role comes with a dash of uncertainty in terms of the defensive strategy he’ll employ. It marks his debut in a play-calling position. A fortunate asset for UCLA, Ken Norton Jr., a seasoned NFL assistant coach, is part of the coaching staff. Lynn can tap into Norton’s wealth of experience as he navigates his first stint as a defensive coordinator.

In conclusion, UCLA’s persistent search for an adept defensive coordinator led them to D’Anton Lynn, a rising star in the college football coaching scene. With a strong lineage and years of NFL coaching exposure, Lynn brings fresh perspectives to the team. As the upcoming season unfolds, all eyes are on Lynn as he takes the reins of UCLA’s defense, determined to make a mark in the national rankings.