Penn State football will need a new defensive leader to oversee grand expectations for the upcoming season.
A hire that’s become almost a yearly routine now for head coach James Franklin.
The Nittany Lions must find a new defensive coordinator for the third time in four years after the sudden departure of Tom Allen. The former Indiana head coach moved to take over the Clemson defensive responsibilities on Tuesday after just one year in State College.
He led another Top 10 Nittany Lion defense following an impressive two-year run by Manny Diaz. Diaz, who left in December of 2023 to become Duke’s head coach, flourished at PSU after a long run by current Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry.
So who will lead the Lions next?
Certainly, the new DC will oversee another deep, talented core of defenders, led by defensive tackle Zane Durant and rush-end Dani Dennis-Sutton up front and cornerback A.J. Harris and safety Zakee Wheatley in the back. A Top 10 defense that was among the nation’s very best total yards allowed, rushing yards allowed and scoring.
A defense that expects to lead the Lions to, once again, battle for a Big Ten Championship and make a run in the College Football Playoff.
Here are seven names to know in Penn State’s search:
Anthony Poindexter, Penn State safeties coach
Anthony Poindexter is Franklin’s leading in-house candidate.
Poindexter, 48, just finished his fourth year on the staff and helped Allen coordinate the defense. He’s a former All-American defensive back at Virginia and a College Football Hall of Famer.
He was the Lions’ co-interim defensive coordinator during last season’s Peach Bowl and was a leading candidate for the Virginia head coaching job before that. He’s certainly produced NFL talent, recruits well and is well-regarded among his players.
Jim Knowles, Ohio State defensive coordinator
Jim Knowles may be the biggest name on the board.
But is he truly available? It wouldn’t hurt to take another shot (Franklin and Penn State reportedly reached out to Knowles before hiring Diaz) considering his pedigree and recent success.
Of course, it might take Buckeyes’ coach Ryan Day leaving for the NFL, a huge PSU offer or some other unforeseen circumstance for him to consider leaving one of the nation’s richest and most successful programs.
Knowles, 59, is from Philadelphia.
D’Anton Lynn, USC defensive coordinator
D’Anton Lynn, 35, is a former standout Penn State defensive back who’s on the rise in the coaching industry.
He carved out an early NFL assistant career with several teams, including the Baltimore Ravens, before landing as UCLA’s defensive leader in 2023. His Bruins’ defense took an immediate jump, ranking 10th nationally in total defense and seventh in sacks.
USC hired him away for the 2024 season, where his defense, again, showed quick progress before struggling down the stretch, along with the entire team.
Tim Banks, Tennessee defensive coordinator
Tim Banks, 53, is a well-known commodity (He coached for five years under Franklin) and a proven recruiter who has flourished in leading Tennessee’s defense the past four seasons.
The Volunteers have ranked among the SEC’s best in tackles for loss and forcing turnovers. They were a Top 10 defense, overall, like Penn State in 2024.
Joe Rossi, Michigan State defensive coordinator
Joe Rossi’s name has come up on previous Penn State defensive coordinator searches. Rossi, 45, has deep in-state ties and Big Ten coaching experience.
He played at Pittsburgh Central Catholic and Allegheny College and has spent the past dozen years coaching at Big Ten schools. That includes an impressive six-year run as Minnesota’s defensive coordinator and linebackers’ coach.
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Geoff Collins, former North Carolina defensive coordinator
Geoff Collins, 53, is looking for work after not being retained with Bill Belichick’s new staff at North Carolina.
Collins, a former Georgia Tech and Temple head coach, first made his name as a standout defensive coordinator. He led national-caliber units at Florida and Mississippi State in the SEC, though his one year with the Tarheels featured impressive sack numbers but struggles overall.
Ephraim Banda, Cleveland Browns safeties coach
It wouldn’t surprise if Franklin makes a run at an NFL coach. But can he lure a guy, like up-and-comer Ephraim Banda, who reportedly is interviewing for pro defensive coordinator positions?
Banda, 43, is a Many Diaz protege, joining the former Penn State DC when he ran the defense at Texas. He followed Diaz and continued to work under him at Mississippi State and for five years at Miami. Banda helped oversee the Hurricanes’ top-15 defense in 2019 as co-coordinator.
He’s coached Cleveland Browns’ safeties since 2023.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Penn State football defensive coordinator search: Seven names to know
