D'Anton Lynn

Last updated

D'Anton Lynn
USC Trojans
Position: Defensive coordinator
Personal information
Born: (1989-10-24) October 24, 1989 (age 34)
Plano, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:208 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school: Celina (Celina, Texas)
College: Penn State
Undrafted: 2012
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:

Anthony Ray "D'Anton" Lynn II [1] (born October 24, 1989) [2] is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the USC Trojans of the Big Ten Conference (NCAA). He was previously the defensive coordinator for the UCLA Bruins.

Contents

Lynn played college football as a cornerback for the Penn State Nittany Lions, and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Jets in 2012. He became an assistant coach with the Jets, Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers before becoming the secondary coach for the Houston Texans. Lynn then served as the defensive backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens in 2021 before being elevated in 2022 to their safeties coach. He became the UCLA defensive coordinator in 2023, leaving for USC after the regular season.

Playing career

High school

Lynn attended Celina High School in Celina, Texas. Lynn also played defensive back, linebacker, quarterback, running back and wide receiver at Celina High School. [2] He was selected for the Associated Press Class 3A first-team all-state. [2]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeight40‡Commit date
D'Anton Lynn
Safety 		Celina, Texas Celina High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)177 lb (80 kg)4.48Nov 10, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: 4 stars.svg     Rivals: 3 stars.svg     247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 15 (S)   Rivals: 29 (Safety), 51 (TX)
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Penn State Football Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  • "2008 Penn State Football Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  • "2008 Penn State Nittany Lions commits". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  • "2008 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

College

Lynn played four seasons as a cornerback at Pennsylvania State University. [2] During his tenure with the Nittany Lions, he recorded 162 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery. [3] He received honorable mention three times for the All-Big Ten team. [4]

In his freshman year, on October 11, 2008, he just had 2 tackles against Wisconsin and Penn State won 48-7. [5] As a sophomore, he won the starting cornerback position. [2] On October 31, 2009, he recorded 8 tackles against Northwestern as Penn State won 34-13. [6]

In his junior year, Lynn started every single game at cornerback. [2] He finished the season with 75 tackles, 3 interceptions and 7 passes defensed. [7] On September 11, 2010, he recorded 5 tackles in a loss to No. 1 ranked Alabama by the score of 24-3. [8] The next game on September 18, 2010, he had 2 tackles and an interception against Kent State and Penn State won 24-0. [9] On October 23, 2010, he record 10 tackles, one interception and 2 passes defended against Minnesota and Penn State won 33-21. [10]

National Football League

2012 NFL Combine

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 0 in
(1.83 m)		206 lb
(93 kg)		29+3⁄4 in
(0.76 m)		8+1⁄2 in
(0.22 m)		4.77 s31.5 in
(0.80 m)		111 ft 0 in
(33.83 m)		17.0 reps
All values from the NFL Combine [11]

New York Jets

On April 29, 2012, Lynn signed with New York Jets as an undrafted free agent and reuniting him with his father Anthony Lynn who was at the time the Jets running backs coach. [12] On August 31, 2012, he was released. [13]

Canadian Football League

Hamilton Tiger Cats

On May 24, 2013, Lynn signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. [14] On June 2, 2013, Lynn was released. [15]

Coaching career

New York Jets

In 2014, Lynn served as a seasonal intern for the New York Jets, after serving in the team's scouting department in 2013.

Buffalo Bills

On January 26, 2015, Lynn was hired by the Buffalo Bills as a defensive assistant. [16]

Los Angeles Chargers

On February 2, 2017, Lynn was hired by the Los Angeles Chargers as a defensive assistant. [1]

Houston Texans

On February 7, 2018, Lynn was hired by the Houston Texans as their assistant defensive backs coach under head coach Bill O’Brien. [17] On January 29, 2020, Lynn was promoted to the team's secondary coach.

Baltimore Ravens

On January 24, 2021, Lynn was hired by the Baltimore Ravens as their defensive backs coach under defensive coordinator Don Martindale and head coach John Harbaugh. [18]

On January 20, 2022, Lynn was selected as head coach of the East squad in the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl held in Las Vegas.

UCLA Bruins

On February 27, 2023, Lynn was hired by UCLA to become their defensive coordinator, replacing Bill McGovern. [4] Lynn's two-year contract at $1.02 million per year was the richest in the program's history for an assistant at his position. [19] He inherited a defense that finished the past five seasons Nos. 86, 70, 69, 113 and 102 in the nation in total defense. Under Lynn in 2023, the Bruins defense improved to No. 11 in the regular season, allowing just 299 yards per game. [19] It was fewest yards allowed in the Pac-12 Conference, and they also surrendered the second-fewest points. On November 18 against their crosstown rivals, USC, the Bruins won 38–20, with the defense holding the Trojans to their lowest scoring output of the season along with three yards rushing, USC's worst ground performance since 2018. [19]

USC Trojans

On December 1, 2023, USC hired Lynn as their defensive coordinator after having fired their previous coordinator, Alex Grinch, midseason on November 5. [19] Lynn left UCLA before they were invited to the LA Bowl. [20]

Personal life

Lynn is the son of former Los Angeles Chargers head coach, and current Washington Commanders run game coordinator/running backs coach, Anthony Lynn. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gill Byrd</span> American football player and coach (born 1961)

Gill Arnette Byrd is an American former professional football cornerback who played for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He was a twice Pro Bowl selection in 1991 and 1992 for the Chargers after graduating from San Jose State University. Byrd was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame in 1998.

Dennis Lee Thurman is an American football coach and former player. He is a former coach in the National Football League (NFL) for the Phoenix Cardinals, the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Jets, and in the Alliance of American Football (AAF) for the Memphis Express. He played as a cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys and the St. Louis Cardinals. He played college football for the USC Trojans.

Carnell Augustino Lake is an American former professional football player and coach who is the defensive coordinator for the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League (UFL). He was a safety and cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He is a member of the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. He was the cornerbacks coach for the UCLA Bruins under head coach Rick Neuheisel in 2009 before leaving after one season for family reasons. He was the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive backs coach until February 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kennedy Polamalu</span> American football player and coach (born 1963)

Kennedy Polamalu is an American football coach and former player who is the running backs coach for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). Formerly, he served as the running backs coach for the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, and Las Vegas Raiders. He was the offensive coordinator for the UCLA Bruins. Prior to that he was the offensive coordinator for the USC Trojans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renaldo Hill</span> American football player and coach (born 1978)

Renaldo Hill is an American football coach and former player who is the pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive backs coach for the Denver Broncos from 2019 to 2020, the Los Angeles Chargers from 2021 to 2022. Currently in 2023 serves as an assistant defensive coach for the Miami Dolphins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeWayne Walker</span> American gridiron football player and coach (born 1960)

DeWayne Morris Walker is an American gridiron football coach and former player. He is currently the cornerbacks and nickels coach for the Arizona Wildcats football team. He previously served as the defensive backs coach of the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). Walker played college football at the University of Minnesota and professionally in the Canadian Football League (CFL), with Edmonton Eskimos in 1982, and in the United States Football League (USFL), with the Oakland Invaders in 1984 and the Arizona Outlaws in 1985. Walker served as the head football coach at New Mexico State University from 2009 to 2012, compiling a record of 10–41 in four seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Lynn</span> American football player and coach (born 1968)

Anthony Ray Lynn is an American football coach and former running back who is the run game coordinator and running backs coach for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Texas Tech Red Raiders and in the NFL for six seasons, primarily with the Denver Broncos where he won Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII. Lynn entered coaching after retiring as a player in 2000, later serving as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers from 2017 to 2020.

A coaching tree is similar to a family tree except it shows the relationships of coaches instead of family members. There are several ways to define a relationship between two coaches. The most common way to make the distinction is if a coach worked as an assistant on a particular head coach's staff for at least a season then that coach can be counted as being a branch on the head coach's coaching tree. Coaching trees can also show philosophical influence from one head coach to an assistant.

Eric Charles Henderson is an American football coach who is the co-defensive coordinator, defensive line coach, and run game coordinator for the USC Trojans of the Big Ten Conference (NCAA). He previously served as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Rams.

Sanjay Lal is an American football coach who is the wide receivers coach for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as an assistant coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, and Seattle Seahawks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Roman</span> American football coach (born 1972)

Gregory P. Roman is an American football coach who is the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). Previously, he was the offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens for four seasons and resigned from the team following the 2022 season. Prior to serving with the Baltimore Ravens, Roman was an assistant coach for the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers.

Scott Gregory Hazelton is an American football coach. He was recently the defensive coordinator at Michigan State University. Hazelton was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Kansas State University in 2019 before moving to Michigan State. He was previously the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of Wyoming in 2017 and 2018 where he led nationally ranked defenses in both seasons, linebackers coach at USC in 2012 and the defensive coordinator of the 2011 FCS National Champions, North Dakota State Bison. Hazelton was tutored as a defensive coach under the guidance of then North Dakota State head coach and current Buffalo Bills assistant Bob Babich and Gus Bradley who is a former head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, former Bison assistant coach, and is currently the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Giff Smith is an American football coach who is the defensive line coach and run game coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the interim head coach for the 2023 season with the Los Angeles Chargers. He was also an assistant coach for the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill McGovern (American football)</span> American football coach (1962–2023)

William E. McGovern was an American college and professional football coach. A defensive coach for almost 40 years, his longest stint was with Boston College, serving 13 years from 2000 to 2012 as their linebackers coach and later as defensive coordinator. He was also a linebackers coach for eight years in the National Football League (NFL) with the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, and Chicago Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hayes Pullard</span> American football player and coach (born 1992)

Hayes Joseph "HP" Pullard III is an American football coach and former linebacker who is currently a defensive assistant for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He was previously a quality control analyst for the USC Trojans, where he played college football. He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL draft, and was also a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, and Philadelphia Eagles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brent Pry</span> American football player and coach (born 1970)

Brenton James Pry is an American football coach and former player who is currently the head coach at Virginia Tech. He previously served as the defensive coordinator at Penn State from 2016 to 2021. He played college football for the Buffalo Bulls.

Tim Banks, is an American college football coach and former player. He is the defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the University of Tennessee, a position he has held since 2021. He played college football for Central Michigan.

Greg Williams is an American football coach who is the inside linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as an assistant coach for the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, and Green Bay Packers.

Donte Antonio Williams is an American football coach who is the defensive backs coach at the University of Georgia. He previously served as USC's associate head coach under Clay Helton, and he became USC's interim head coach on September 13, 2021, after Helton was fired. After leading the Trojans for the final 10 games of the 2021 season, Williams remained at the school on the staff of new head coach Lincoln Riley. A coach with stints at Oregon, Nebraska, Arizona, and San Jose State, Williams has established himself as one of the nation's top college football recruiters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 UCLA Bruins football team</span> American college football season

The 2023 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles in the Pac-12 Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bruins were led by Chip Kelly in his sixth and final season at UCLA. They played their home games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The season was the team's last season as members of Pac-12 before joining the Big Ten Conference in 2024.

References

  1. 1 2 Reeve, Will Jr. (February 9, 2017). "Los Angeles Chargers: Anthony Lynn hires son as defensive assistant". Chargers Wire. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "D'Anton Lynn". gopsusports.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2017.
  3. ↑ "D'Anton Lynn Statistics". sports-reference.com. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  4. 1 2 Williams, James H. (February 28, 2023). "UCLA hires D'Anton Lynn as defensive coordinator, Bill McGovern remains on staff". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  5. ↑ "(6) Penn State 48, Wisconsin 7 Box Score". sports-reference.com. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  6. ↑ "(12) Penn State 34, Northwestern 13 Box Score". sports-reference.com/. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  7. ↑ "2010 Penn State Nittany Lions Statistics". sports-reference.com/. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  8. ↑ "(18) Penn State 3, (1) Alabama 24 Box Score". sports-reference.com/. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Kent State 0, (22) Penn State 24 Box Score". sports-reference.com/. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Penn State 33, Minnesota 21 Box Score". sports-reference.com/. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  11. ↑ D'Anton Lynn NFL Combine profile
  12. ↑ Rich Cimini (April 29, 2012). "Jets sign D'Anton Lynn, son of RBs coach". ESPN New York.com. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Jets make early cuts, including some family connections". profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Tiger-Cats Sign Six, Release Two". oursportscentral.com. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  15. ↑ "CFL Transactions". cfl.ca. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Bills hire six new assistant coaches, retain four". buffalobills.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Texans hire D'Anton Lynn as assistant defensive backs coach". chron.com. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  18. ↑ Brown, Clifton (January 24, 2021). "Ravens Add D'Anton Lynn As Defensive Backs Coach". www.baltimoreravens.com. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  19. 1 2 3 4 Nguyen, Thuc Nhi; Bolch, Ben; Kartje, Ryan (December 1, 2023). "Crosstown move: USC hires UCLA's D'Anton Lynn as its defensive coordinator". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  20. ↑ Bolch, Ben (December 3, 2023). "UCLA to play Boise State in L.A. Bowl at SoFi Stadium as Chip Kelly forges ahead". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Los Angeles Chargers: Anthony Lynn hires son as defensive assistant". Chargers Wire. February 9, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.