Meet Anthony Poindexter, Penn State's Newest Defensive Coach

Anthony Poindexter, a College Football Hall of Famer, will join Penn State's coaching staff after four years at Purdue.

Penn State made it official Wednesday, announcing that Purdue assistant coach Anthony Poindexter will join the defensive coaching staff.

So who is Poindexter? He's a College Football Hall of Fame inductee who won a Super Bowl ring with the Baltimore Ravens, has extensive college coaching experience and is a highly regarded recruiter.

Poindexter, 44, replaces Tim Banks, who left to become defensive coordinator at Tennessee. He is the third new coach (with offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich and tight ends coach Ty Howle) to join Penn State's staff since the 2020 season ended.

"We are excited to welcome Anthony to our staff,” Penn State coach James Franklin said in a statement. "He brings an impressive football background both as a player and a coach. As a player, he is a College Football Hall of Famer, a two-time consensus All-American and won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens. During his 18-year coaching career, he has been a defensive coordinator and has worked in multiple Power Five conferences. Anthony’s safeties have always played hard with a nose for the ball. Anthony has an infectious personality and leads with humility. Our safeties will really enjoy learning from him."

Here's what to know about Poindexter.

All-American at Virginia

Poindexter was a two-time, first-team All-American safety at Virginia, a career that led to his 2020 induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was named the 1998 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and owns or shares school records for tackles (14), interceptions (three) and fumble recoveries (two) made in a game. He made 342 career tackles and recovered a school-record seven fumbles.

Virginia retired Poindexter's jersey No. 3 in 2009.

To the Super Bowl

During his senior year in 1998, Poindexter sustained a knee injury that ended his college career. It also affected his draft status. Poindexter fell to the seventh round of the 1999 draft, where the Baltimore Ravens selected him.

Still, Poindexter played three seasons in the NFL, including in 10 games for the Ravens during their 2000 Super Bowl campaign.

On to coaching

Following his NFL career, Poindexter returned to his alma mater, where he spent 11 seasons on the coaching staff. He began as a graduate assistant at Virginia, coached running backs and special teams and eventually guided the defensive backs.

Poindexter moved to Connecticut for three years, where he was the defensive coordinator and safeties coach, and spent the past four at Purdue as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach.

Recruiting impact

Poindexter is a Lynchburg, Va., native who played at his home state school, won a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens and spent 11 years coaching and recruiting at Virginia. That's a lot of time in the DMV.

Penn State coach James Franklin certainly would have crossed recruiting paths with Poindexter during his Maryland days and knows about Poindexter's recruiting skills. The region is an impact recruiting territory for Penn State, one where Poindexter should have deep relationships and be a successful recruiter.

“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," Poindexter said in a statement. "I look forward to being under the leadership and guidance of Coach Franklin. I’m inspired by his relentless desire to win and I look forward to contributing in any way I can. Coach [Brent] 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."

Read more

LaVar Arrington questions Jay Paterno's 'no' vote on facilities upgrades

Trustee Jay Paterno explains his 'no' vote on the $48.3 million football project

What's new with the Lasch Football Building upgrades?

Get the latest Penn State news by joining the community. Click "Follow" at the top right of our AllPennState page. Mobile users click the notification bell. And please follow AllPennState on Twitter @MarkWogenrich.