UNIVERSITY PARK – Penn State football has announced the additions of Ikaika Malloe and Tyson Veidt to its on-field coaching staff for the 2026 season. Malloe will serve as defensive line coach and run game coordinator, and Veidt will coach the linebackers.

Malloe has built a respected defensive career with multiple Power Four programs, most recently serving as UCLA’s defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach from 2024-25 after coaching the Bruins’ defensive line, outside linebackers, and special teams. In his first season as defensive coordinator with the Bruins in 2024, he earned a Broyles Award nomination.

Veidt brings an accomplished defensive background to Penn State after serving as defensive coordinator at Cincinnati the last two seasons. Prior to Cincinnati, Veidt spent eight seasons at Iowa State under Matt Campbell, helping build one of the Big 12’s most consistent defenses and earning National Linebacker Coach of the Year honors from Football Scoop in 2017.

Dan Connor will return to Penn State in 2026, assisting Veidt with coaching the linebackers.

With the addition of Malloe and Veidt, Penn State’s primary on-field coaching staff consists of the following to date:

Terry Smith – Associate Head Coach/Cornerbacks

D’Anton Lynn – Defensive Coordinator

Justin Lustig – Special Teams Coordinator

Taylor Mouser – Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends

Deon Broomfield – Safeties/Pass Game Coordinator

Ryan Clanton – Offensive Line

Ikaika Malloe – Defensive Line/Run Game Coordinator

Noah Pauley – Wide Receivers

Tyson Veidt – Linebackers

Jake Waters – Quarterbacks

IKAIKA MALLOE – DEFENSIVE LINE/RUN GAME COORDINATOR

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Malloe spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons as UCLA’s defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach, after serving as the defensive line coach in 2023 and outside linebackers and special teams coordinator in 2022.

In his first season as defensive coordinator at UCLA in 2024, Malloe was selected as a nominee for the Broyles Award, which honors the top assistant coach in college football.

Despite losing seven starters, including six who graduated to the NFL ranks, headlined by first-rounder Laiatu Latu, UCLA graded out strong nationally in rushing defense (96.2 yards per game, 6th), fourth-down defense (38.5%, 12th), and total defense (340.8 yards per game, 40th).

Linebacker and former walk-on Carson Schwesinger blossomed into a First-Team All-American and Butkus Award finalist under Malloe in 2024, leading the Big Ten and ranking third nationally with 136 total tackles in the regular season.

Defensive tackle Jay Toia also had a standout campaign in 2024, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention accolades.

In 2023, when Malloe was the defensive line coach, UCLA led the Pac-12 and ranked 10th in the nation in total defense (301.5 yards per game). In addition, the Bruins ranked second in the nation in rushing defense (80.8) and limited opponents to 18.4 points per game, which rated as the 14th-best mark in the country.

UCLA led the nation after opponents scored just five rushing touchdowns on the season. The Bruins were second in the nation allowing just 2.65 yards per rush, its best mark at the school since 1985.

Defensive end Laiatu Latu, who led the nation averaging 1.8 tackles for loss per game and was fourth in sacks per game average (1.08), became the first UCLA player to win the Lombardi Award, the Hendricks Award and the Polynesian (defense) Player of the Year Award.

Defensive end Gabriel Murphy, who registered 15 tackles for loss, and his brother, Grayson, each earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors. UCLA, with 43, recorded over 40 sacks for the first time since the 2012 season.

In 2022, Latu earned 2022 first-team all-conference honors after recording 10.5 sacks, the most by a Bruin since 2012. The Bruins had two of the Pac-12’s leaders in sacks as Latu (0.81-2nd) was joined by Grayson Murphy (0.38-13th) on that list.

Malloe, a former standout defensive player at the University of Washington, guided his alma mater’s defensive line from 2016-2020 before shifting to outside linebackers in 2021. He also served as UW’s co-defensive coordinator for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

In 2021, with Malloe helping lead the defense, Washington rated third in the Pac-12 in total defense (336.9 yards per game) and led the league in pass defense efficiency (106.7) while allowing the fewest passing yards per game of any team (143.3). Opponents scored just six touchdowns through the air against UW over the course of the 2021 season.

The 2019 season was another strong one for the UW defensive line, which helped limit opponents to just 19.4 points per game. Malloe helped mentor his latest first-team All-Pac-12 selection, as Levi Onwuzurike, now with the Detroit Lions, earned that honor in 2019.

The previous two years, Malloe coached Vita Vea the winner of the Pac-12’s Morris Trophy, given to the top offensive and defensive lineman in the conference, as voted on by the conference’s opposing linemen. Vea, now in the NFL with Tampa Bay, won the award in 2017 and the Huskies repeated in 2018 as Greg Gaines took home the honor. Gaines, who is a member of the Los Angeles Rams, was also a first-team All-Pac-12 selection, while senior lineman Jaylen Johnson earned honorable mention All-Conference accolades.

The Huskies also led the Pac-12 in both scoring (15.5 points per game) and total defense (301.8 yards per game) in 2018, marking the third-straight season for the Huskies to accomplish the feat under coach Malloe. The 2018 Huskies were also second in the Pac-12 in rushing and passing defense.

The 2017 Husky defense was anchored by Malloe’s pupil, Vea, the Pat Tillman Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Thanks largely to Vea and Gaines, then a second-team All-Pac-12 selection, the Huskies’ line helped the defense rank fourth nationally allowing 100.8 yards per game and second overall allowing 2.86 yards per rush. Vea would go on to be the 12th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, the second-straight draft that one of Malloe’s players was selected.

In his first season at Washington, Malloe helped coach a UW defensive unit that once again topped all Pac-12 defenses as the Huskies went 12-2 and earned a trip to the 2016 College Football Playoff. Washington led the conference in both total defense (316.9 yards per game, 12th in the nation) and scoring defense (17.7 points per game, eighth) in the nation, while leading all FBS schools in turnover margin (1.29 per game) and takeaways (33).

On the defensive line, Elijah Qualls earned first-team All-Pac-12 (as well as second-team All-America from FOX Sports), while Vea was a second-teamer and Gaines earned honorable mention.

Malloe joined the Husky staff after having spent two seasons guiding the defensive line at Utah State. In 2014, he helped the Aggies to a 10-4 overall record (second-most wins in school history). Three defensive linemen earned All-Mountain West honors (a first-teamer, a second-teamer and an honorable mention) in 2014.

Malloe went to Utah State after two seasons at Portland State, where he worked under former Husky teammate Nigel Burton as the Vikings’ special teams coordinator and defensive tackles coach.

From 2009-2011, Malloe spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Yale.

In 2008, he was special teams coordinator and defensive tackles coach at Hawai’i, helping guide the Warriors to a berth in the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl.

From 2004-07, he was defensive line coach at Texas-El Paso, which made it to the 2005 GMAC Bowl.

Prior to UTEP, Malloe began his full-time coaching career as special teams coordinator and defensive line coach at Western Illinois. The Leathernecks won the Gateway Conference title in 2002 and made the NCAA Division I-AA playoff quarterfinals twice.

Malloe began his career as a student assistant, program coordinator and, eventually, a graduate assistant, at Washington.

PLAYING CAREER

Malloe was a four-year letterwinner as a safety and outside linebacker at Washington.

He started 11 games in 1995, when the Huskies won a share of the Pac-10 championship. Malloe led UW in interceptions that season, with five.

In 1993, he won the Bob Jarvis Most Inspirational Walk-On Award after having won the Brian Stapp Defensive Scout of the Year Award in 1992.

PERSONAL

A native of Waimanalo, Hawaii, Malloe earned his degree in sociology from Washington in 1997.

He and his wife, Tara, have two daughters, Taylor and Sloane, and two sons, Jordan and Isaiah.

THE MALLOE FILE

Personal

Year at Penn State: 1st

Hometown: Waimanalo, Hawaii

Education: Washington, 1997 – B.S. Sociology

Family: Wife: Tara; Daughters: Taylor, Sloane; Sons: Jordan, Isaiah

Coaching Career

2026-: Penn State [Defensive Line/Run Game Coordinator]

2024-25: UCLA [Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers]

2023: UCLA [Defensive Line]

2022: UCLA [Special Teams Coordinator/Outside Linebackers]

2021: Washington [Co-Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers]

2020: Washington [Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line]

2016-19: Washington [Defensive Line]

2014-15: Utah State [Defensive Line]

2012-13: Portland State [Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Tackles]

2009-11: Yale [Defensive Coordinator]

2008: Hawaii [Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Tackles]

2004-07: UTEP [Defensive Line]

2001-03: Western Illinois [Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Line]

1997-01: Washington [Graduate Assistant]

Playing Experience

1992-96: Washington

Postseason as a Coach

2023: LA Bowl [UCLA]

2022: Sun Bowl [UCLA]

2019: Las Vegas Bowl [Washington]

2018: Rose Bowl [Washington]

2017: Fiesta Bowl [Washington]

2016: Peach Bowl [Washington]

2015: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl [Utah State]

2014: New Mexico Bowl [Utah State]

2008: Hawaii Bowl [Hawaii]

2005: GMAC Bowl [UTEP]

2004: Houston Bowl [UTEP]

2001: Rose Bowl [Washington]

1999: Holiday Bowl [Washington]

1998: Oahu Bowl [Washington]

1997: Aloha Bowl [Washington]

Prominent Players Coached

Carson Bruener [Washington]: Pittsburgh Steelers; 2025 seventh-round pick

Greg Gaines [Washington]: Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 2019 fourth-round pick

Cal Jones Jr. [UCLA]: Baltimore Ravens

Ale Kaho [UCLA]: Washington Commanders

Laiatu Latu [UCLA/Washington]: Indianapolis Colts; 2024 first-round pick

Kain Medrano [UCLA]: Washington Commanders; 2025 sixth-round pick

Gabriel Murphy [UCLA]: Minnesota Vikings

Darius Muasau [UCLA]: New York Giants; 2024 sixth-round pick

Oluwafemi Oladejo [UCLA]: Tennessee Titans; 2025 second-round pick

Levi Onwuzurike [Washington]: Detroit Lions; 2021 second-round pick

Elijah Qualls [Washington]: NFL [2017-21]; 2017 sixth-round pick

Carson Schwesinger [UCLA]: Cleveland Browns; 2025 second-round pick

Jay Toia [UCLA]: Dallas Cowboys; 2025 seventh-round pick

Bralen Trice [Washington]: Atlanta Falcons; 2024 third-round pick

Joe Tryon [Washington]: Chicago Bears; 2021 first-round pick

Edefuan Ulofoshio [Washington]: Cleveland Browns; 2024 fifth-round pick

Vita Vea [Washington]: Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 2018 first-round pick

TYSON VEIDT – LINEBACKERS

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Veidt joins the Nittany Lions following a two-year stint as the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati.

During the 2025 campaign under Veidt, first-team All-Big 12 linebacker Jake Golday finished with 105 tackles while adding six tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and three pass breakups. He ranked among the conference and national leaders in tackles per game (8.8) and has eight games with double-digit stops.

During Veidt’s first season running the defense for the Bearcats, defensive tackle Dontay Corleone was recognized as an All-American by Phil Steele and College Football Network and overcame a difficult offseason to become a disruptive force on the line, collecting 26 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks.

In his first collegiate season, linebacker Simeon Coleman received several freshman All-America accolades after logging 32 tackles, 4.5 TFL, and two QB hurries while registering 238 defensive snaps, more than any other true freshman linebacker in the Big 12.

Fellow freshman Jiquan Sanks also enjoyed a successful rookie campaign under Veidt, tallying 42 tackles and making five starts in the secondary.

Veidt also utilized new linebacker additions of Golday and Jared Bartlett, who both earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors. Golday was rated among the Top 10 linebackers in the country according to Pro Football Focus and Bartlett ranked among the conference leaders in sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (11.5)

Prior to his arrival at Cincinnati, Veidt spent eight seasons at Iowa State under Matt Campbell, where he built one of the best defenses in the Big 12 as the program’s associate head coach and linebackers coach. Veidt was named the National Linebacker Coach of the Year by Football Scoop in 2017. He was a nominee for the Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach, in 2018.

From 2016 when Veidt landed at Iowa State until his departure, the Cyclones led the Big 12 in scoring defense (23.2), total defense (354.7), opponent yards per play (5.3), rushing defense (133.4) and yards per carry allowed (3.8). Additionally, Iowa State’s 5.1 yards per play allowed from 2020-2023 was the ninth-fewest in the nation.

Veidt coached a pair of All-America linebackers at ISU in Joel Lanning (2017) and Mike Rose (2020). Lanning was a quarterback his first four years of college before Veidt helped transform him into a star linebacker. Rose was the 2020 Big 12 Defensive MVP after leading the league in tackles (96) and interceptions (five).

Overall, Veidt helped coach 45 all-conference defenders at Iowa State. Nine of his linebackers received All-Big 12 honors a total of 18 times. Three times (2017, 2018, 2019), all three of his starting linebackers received All-Big 12 recognition.

Among his Iowa State linebackers were three-time All-Big 12 selection and former Cleveland Brown Willie Harvey and two-time All-Big 12 performer Jake Hummel, who played for the Los Angeles Rams from 2022-24 and currently plays for the Baltimore Ravens.

Veidt’s time at Iowa State coincided with the Cyclones’ best stretch of success in school history. Iowa State went to six bowls in eight years and finished in the CFP Final Top 25 twice – No. 24 in 2018 and No. 10 in 2020.

Iowa State had one of the best seasons in school history in 2020, finishing 9-3 overall and 8-1 in the Big 12, capping the season with a 34-17 victory over Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl.

The Cyclones led the Big 12 and ranked eighth in the country in rush defense (103.1) in 2020.

In 2023, the Cyclones ranked second in the Big 12 in total defense (363.2) and rush defense (134.2). Veidt mentored sophomore Caleb Bacon, who finished the 2023 season as the Power 5’s fifth-highest rated linebacker (89.2), according to Pro Football Focus.

In 2022, Iowa State had a historic defense, leading the Big 12 in scoring defense (20.2), total defense (285.6), rush defense (107.3) and pass defense (178.2). ISU’s total defense also ranked fourth in the nation

A Logan, Ohio native, Veidt also coached at Toledo from 2014 to 2015 and was the head coach at NCAA Division III Bluffton (Ohio) University from 2008 to 2013. Prior to his time at Bluffton, he made stops at Saint Vincent (Pa.), West Virginia, Muskingum and Indiana. In two years at Toledo, Veidt helped the Rockets to a 19-6 record and a pair of bowl wins.

He served as the head coach at Bluffton for six seasons, guiding the Beavers to 40 school records, while turning around a program that won only one game the year before he arrived.

Additionally, Veidt was a graduate assistant at Indiana and West Virginia, including the 2004 and 2005 Big East Champion teams.

PLAYING CAREER

Veidt attended Muskingum College where he was a two-year starter on the football team, earning three letters from 1994-96.

He received Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors on three occasions.

PERSONAL

Veidt earned his degree in pre-physical therapy from Muskingum in 1996.

He and his wife, Mandy, have a son, Teddy, and twin girls, Lamonica and Guiliana.

THE VEIDT FILE

Personal

Year at Penn State: 1st

Hometown: Logan, Ohio

Education: Muskingum, 1996 – B.S. Pre-Physical Therapy

Family: Wife: Mandy; Son: Teddy; Daughters: Lamonica, Guiliana

Coaching Career

2026-: Penn State [Linebackers]

2024-25: Cincinnati [Defensive Coordinator]

2016-23: Iowa State [Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers]

2014-15: Toledo [Linebackers, Recruiting Coordinator]

2008-13: Bluffton [OH] [Head Coach]

2006-07: Saint Vincent [PA] [Defensive Coordinator]

2004-05: West Virginia [Graduate Assistant]

2000-03: Muskingum [Defensive Coordinator]

1999: Indiana [Graduate Assistant]

1997-98: Muskingum [Graduate Assistant]

Playing Experience

1992-95: Muskingum

Postseason as a Coach

2025: AutoZone Liberty Bowl [Cincinnati]

2023: AutoZone Liberty Bowl [Iowa State]

2021: Cheez-It Bowl [Iowa State]

2020: PlayStation Fiesta Bowl [Iowa State]

2019: Camping World Bowl [Iowa State]

2018: Valero Alamo Bowl [Iowa State]

2017: AutoZone Liberty Bowl [Iowa State]

2015: Boca Raton Bowl [Toledo]

2014: GoDaddy Bowl [Toledo]

2005: Sugar Bowl [West Virginia]

2004: Gator Bowl [West Virginia]

Prominent Players Coached

Jared Bartlett [Cincinnati]: Arizona Cardinals

Jake Golday [Cincinnati]: 2025 First-Team All-Big 12

Willie Harvey [Iowa State]: NFL [2019-24]

Jake Hummel [Iowa State]: Baltimore Ravens

Mike Rose [Iowa State]: 2020 Big 12 Player of the Year