Penn State is close to finding Deion Barnes’ successor
With Deion Barnes off to South Carolina, Penn State is close to hiring UCLA defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe as its next defensive line coach:
Malloe has been a defensive line coach at the NCAA level for over 20 years, most notably a six-year run at Washington from 2016 to 2021. After spending two years as an assistant at UCLA, he was named the Bruins’ defensive coordinator in 2024 and held the position until the end of the 2025 season.
The defensive line will experience heavy turnover in the offseason, most notably veterans Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant. Additionally, Chaz Coleman, Jaylen Harvey, Xavier Gilliam, Zuriah Fisher, and Daniel Jennings have entered the transfer portal. Malloe will have talent to work with, but the defensive line will be very green in 2026.
Per the above tweet, Malloe will also serve as Penn State’s run game coordinator.
Category: General Sports
