In the wake of Deshaun Foster’s firing from the UCLA Head Coach position following the Bruins’ 0-3 start, perhaps the most popular name in college football to replace him is current USC defensive coordinator and former UCLA defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn.
The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman is even reporting that Lynn is one of UCLA’s top targets.
I get it, Bruins fans. I really do. Watching Lynn transform your most bitter rival’s defensive unit from the laughingstock of the NCAA to one of the best in the Big Ten must be hard.
But there’s just absolutely no shot that D’Anton Lynn comes back to UCLA.
Take your pick of any rising Group of 5 Head Coach or Power 5 coordinator. But if Lynn even takes an interview with you, I will be shocked.
Lynn Won’t Leave What He’s Building At USC
D’Anton Lynn has USC’s defense set up for dynastic greatness beyond this season, and there’s really no reason for him to leave that behind before he sees it through.
Lynn has assembled some of the best position coaches in the business, from Eric Henderson to Rob Ryan.
He’s got the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation for 2026 according to multiple outlets, with most of those players coming in being defensive standouts.
And he’s got the leadership around him that’s ready to compete for national championships on an annual basis. Lincoln Riley’s offense finally resembles what he had at Oklahoma, general manager Chad Bowden has been a force since he was hired at USC, and athletic director Jen Cohen has shown in her short tenure that she’s willing to do whatever it takes to win.
Why would he leave that behind for a UCLA program that has plummeting attendance, recruits decommitting left and right, and as of right now, little hope of competing in the Big Ten? Just for a job promotion?
Let’s be honest with ourselves. D’Anton Lynn would love to have conference and national championships to his name regardless of what role he serves in earning them. He has a much clearer path to that at USC than at UCLA.
Plus, D’Anton Lynn is going to have plenty more job opportunities in the future that are better than being the head coach of UCLA! As he continues to succeed, top programs and even NFL teams will try to lure him away.
There is plenty of great coaching talent that would kill for the UCLA Head Coaching job, but D’Anton Lynn is very, very likely not among them.
Lynn Already Has His Chance At UCLA
D’Anton Lynn was hired to be the defensive coordinator at USC after just one season at UCLA, on December 1, 2023. He replaced Alex Grinch.
Just three months later, on February 4, 2025, Chip Kelly left UCLA for Ohio State and the Bruins hired DeShaun Foster.
All along, Kelly was interviewing for NFL coordinator positions. Do we seriously think that D’Anton Lynn didn’t know Kelly was looking to leave?
Lynn had to know in the back of his mind that he had a good shot to take over for Kelly as Head Coach in 2024. He chose to leave and go to USC instead.
Then ahead of 2025, Lynn surely had opportunities to coach elsewhere, but he signed a contract extension with USC.
Face the facts. He likes the Cardinal and Gold, and the only way he’d realistically leave USC anytime soon is if a high profile NFL team offered him a top job.
USC fans, how long do you think D’Anton Lynn will be a Trojan?