Reports: UCLA Set to Hire D'Anton Lynn as New Defensive Coordinator
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The Bruins appear to be making a major change to their coaching staff.
According to multiple reports, UCLA football is expected to hire Baltimore Ravens safeties coach D'Anton Lynn as its next defensive coordinator. On3 Sports was first to report the news Wednesday night, and 247Sports' Bruin Report Online went public with its own report soon after.
With Lynn coming in, Bill McGovern is apparently out as the Bruins' defensive coordinator after just one season. McGovern missed most of the back half of the season with health issues, and there were rumblings of him not holding onto his position heading into 2023.
It remains to be seen if McGovern will move to another role on the staff with Lynn entering the fray, or if he will leave the team entirely.
Lynn, who is the son of former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn, spent the past two seasons in Baltimore. Before that, D'Anton Lynn had stints with the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans.
Since his four-year career as a cornerback at Penn State, Lynn has not picked up any additional experience in the college game. Lynn's playing career came to an end after one preseason with the Jets and another with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League.
Lynn spent nine years in the NFL as a seasonal intern, defensive assistant, secondary coach and safeties coach. He has been on staffs led by John Harbaugh, Bill O'Brien, Rex Ryan and his father.
In 2022, Lynn was the head coach of the East team at the East-West Shrine Bowl. Former UCLA safety Quentin Lake starred at the event that offseason.
Although he does not have experience as a defensive coordinator or in any position at the college level, Chip Kelly is hoping Lynn will be able to turn around the Bruins' defense.
UCLA allowed 29.0 points per game in 2022, which ranked 92nd in the country. That was a step back from their performance in 2021, when they ranked No. 73 with 26.8 points allowed per game.
After 2021, the Bruins moved on from fourth-year defensive coordinator Jerry Azzinaro. It appears the program is ready to move on from McGovern as well, albeit a mere one season into his tenure.
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