ALTOONA, Pa. -- Penn State head coach James Franklin didn't have to go beyond the Big Ten in finding his replacement for the departed Tim Banks, hiring Anthony Poindexter, the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Purdue, to the same position with the Nittany Lions.
Poindexter spent the past four seasons with the Purdue; before that, the College Football Hall of Famer spent three years as the defensive coordinator at UConn.
"We are excited to welcome Anthony to our staff," Franklin said in a statement released by the school. "He brings an impressive football background, both as a player and a coach."
A native of Virginia, Poindexter is no stranger to the history and tradition at Penn State.
"I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to be a part of Penn State football," Poindexter said in a statement. "As long as I've played the game of football, I've been aware of the long-standing tradition and history of excellence here at Penn State."
As a player, Poindexter was a two-time consensus All-American and won a Super Bowl XXXV ring with the Baltimore Ravens. He is regarded as one of the best to have played for Virginia where, as a safety, he recorded 342 tackles and is one of only three players to be named to the ACC All-Conference team three times.
He entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 2020, and had his jersey number retired by the Cavaliers in 2009. The Ravens selected Poindexter in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft, and he spent his the first season in the NFL injured-reserve as a result of a torn ACL suffered in his senior year.
Poindexter appeared in 10 games for Baltimore's Super Bowl-winning team in 2000, but did not play in the Super Bowl. He was released by the Ravens and signed by Cleveland, but was released in September, ending his playing career.
Poindexter then returned to his alma mater as a graduate assistant before spending the 2004-08 season as running backs coach. He hopped to the defensive side of the ball in 2009 as safeties coach and added special-teams coordinator to his list of duties in 2010.
Poindexter held those roles until 2013, when he was solely the safeties coach in his final season with the Cavaliers. He subsequently moved to UConn to be defensive coordinator and safeties coach, a role he would fill until he left in 2016 to become the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Purdue.
At Penn State, Poindexter will be tasked with collaborating with defensive coordinator Brent Pry as well as leading what can potentially be a strong safeties group in 2021.
"Coach Pry has assembled one of the best defensive units in the country and nothing motivates me more than young men with a will to work hard and learn," Poindexter said.
As a player, he drew comparisons to Ronnie Lott before his knee injury altered his path. The hard-nosed, hard-hitting mentality that made him the player he was has translated to the way he coaches his safeties, which ultimately endeared Poindexter to Franklin.
"Anthony's safeties have always played hard, with a nose for the ball," Franklin said. "Anthony has an infectious personality and leads with humility. Our safeties will really enjoy learning from him."
The group he will be instructing has talent, as the Nittany Lions return Pro Football Focus First-Team All-American Jaquan Brisker and Jonathan Sutherland, who got substantial time last season. Poindexter also will have Enzo Jennings, who is expected to have a larger role this season.
With Purdue, Poindexter's starting safeties finished second and fourth on the team in tackles in 2018 and followed that performance by finishing fourth and fifth in 2019. Under his tutelage, walk-on Brennan Thieneman went on to win All-Big Ten honors three times (2017, 2018 and 2020).
Being able to develop safeties is going to be huge for Poindexter and Penn State moving forward, much like it was under Banks. What's important -- and remains to be seen -- is whether the back end of the secondary will be able limit the mental mistakes and coverage lapses that have existed in recent years.
If Poindexter can do that and keep developing players at the safety position, this hire will be a home run for Franklin and the program.
