As Franklin said before hiring Allen last year, Penn State's defense is not in rebuild mode. The program is about winning now, which the returns of Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki have foreshadowed. Franklin is chasing hardware next season, and the defensive coordinator hire will reflect that.

Haines was a finalist for the Broyles Award (top assistant) in 2024 and a semifinalist for the award in 2023. During Allen’s one season in State College, Penn State, the Lions finished No. 7 in FBS in total defense (294.8), No. 8 in scoring defense (16.5) and No. 9 in rushing defense (101.9).

James Franklin must hire a new defensive coordinator for the third time in four years. Here are seven potential candidates

Tyler Warren caught more passes than the Nittany Lions' entire receivers room. What happened, and what's next?

Wallace, Evans and the other wide receivers failed to make a catch in Penn State’s 27-24 loss to Notre Dame last week in a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl. In the Lions’ three losses to Ohio State,