247Sports’ Brandon Huffman first tweeted the news.
Mallow spent the 2022 season as the Bruins’ outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator before taking over the defensive line in 2023. He arrived in Los Angeles after a six-year stint at his alma mater, Washington, from 2016-21. During his playing career with the Huskies, Mallow was a decorated safety and outside linebacker.
Penn State chooses DL hire
Making the move to Penn State this offseason, Mello will reunite with new Nittany Lions defensive coordinator D’Anton LynnWho led UCLA’s defense during the 2023 season. Taking over a program that had languished in the years prior to their arrival, Lynn and Mallow helped engineer a turnaround that left the Bruins feeling pressured on yards allowed. UCLA finished the season ranked 10th nationally, allowing only 301.5 yards per game.
At the forefront of that attack, the Bruins boasted the nation’s second-ranked offensive defense, allowing only 80.8 yards per game on the ground, while giving up only 18.4 points per game.
At the center of that effort, Malo helped guide the development of the defensive end liyatu latuHe was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts with the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Latu led the nation in tackles for loss with 1.8 per game and averaged 1.08 sacks per game, finishing with 13.0 on the season. He was named the Lombardi and Ted Hendricks Award winner, recognizing the nation’s top defensive end, and earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Lynn, Mello reunite at Penn State
When Lynn left UCLA for Southern California after the 2023 season, Mallow was promoted to defensive coordinator. That tenure was cut short when UCLA fired head coach DeShon Foster, with the Bruins parting ways with Malo just two days later.
At the time of Mallow’s departure, three games into the Bruins’ 2025 season, UCLA was ranked among the least effective defensive units in the country. The Bruins ranked 133rd nationally in third-down defense, allowing 244.0 rushing yards per game, and 134th in team passing efficiency defense with a 184.73 rating.
However, before that dissolution, Mallow had built strong relationships with his players, including UCLA senior defensive lineman Jay Toia.
“We have a great relationship, especially because of Laiatu,” Toia said. “Latu played with him in Washington. Latu set an example for us that Coach Mallow is there to help us get better every day, which we did. I’m sure our tape as a defense last year was proof of that.”
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