Penn State football head coach Matt Campbell's coaching staff is shaping up. Since hiring defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn, the defensive side of the staff underwent a series of shifts. Safeties coach Anthony Poindexter was one, who Campbell's replaced with Deon Broomfield from Iowa State as Poindexter followed former Nittany Lion defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to Tennessee.
Anthony Poindexter's departure from Penn State is a tough pill to swallow
On Dec. 23, South Carolina reportedly hired defensive line coach Deion Barnes. He was a potential replacement for defensive coordinator after Campbell's at Iowa State, Jon Heacock, retired. However, those hopes swiftly went down the drain and left an opening for USC's Lynn to hop on over to Happy Valley.
Now with Lynn at the height of the defensive staff, it's not just Cyclones staff members making moves over to Penn State.
On Jan. 1, 247Sports reported that Ikaika Malloe is set to be the Nittany Lions' next defensive line coach.
Penn State is set to hire Ikaika Malloe as its next defensive line coach, per @BrandonHuffman of 247Sports.
— Basic Blues Nation (@BasicBlues) January 2, 2026
Malloe was a 2024 nominee for the Broyles Award before parting ways with the Bruins following DeShaun Foster's firing this fall. He coached defensive line at UCLA under… pic.twitter.com/xSjQc1gbXZ
Former UCLA defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe joins Matt Campbell's staff at Penn State
Malloe and Lynn worked together during Lynn's stint with the Bruins. In 2023, Lynn was UCLA's defensive coordinator before he was hired by the Trojans for the 2024 season. During that season, Malloe was the Bruins' linebackers and defensive line coach. Lynn and Malloe put together a 10th-ranked overall defense and No. 2 run defense. They also led college football in rushing touchdowns allowed with five.
After Lynn's departure from the program, Malloe took over as defensive coordinator for 2024 and eventually parted ways with UCLA following DeShaun Foster's firing. His work in 2024 earned him a nomination for the Broyles Award, which goes to the top assistant coach in college football each year. The Bruins had a top-10 run defense across the country despite major losses in terms of Lynn and a number of starters.
Malloe also has experience coaching at Washington as its defensive linemen and linebackers coach from 2016-21.
In addition to Malloe, Campbell hired Cincinnati defensive coordinator Tyson Veidt as the blue and white's linebacker coach. Previous linebacker coach Dan Connor remains on the staff as an assistant at that position group. This news was announced on Friday, Jan. 2 and is another reunion between Campbell and a former staff member. Veidt was Campbell's assistant head coach and linebackers coach at Iowa State from 2016-23.