LOS ANGELES -- Deshaun Foster continues to build his coaching staff for next season by adding both Andy Kwon and Gabe Lynn Thursday afternoon.
Kwon will replace Juan Castillo as the new offensive line coach for UCLA and Lynn will now coach the safeties after Bryan Norwood announced his departure from the university earlier this offseason.
Over the last three years, Kwon was coaching at Arkansas State. During that time, he coached both Jalen Cunningham and Jordan Rhodes, who are now in the NFL. He also coached Jacob Bayer who has been regarded as a top-ten center's in FBS, earning first-team honors in 2023 and second-team in 2024.
“Coach Kwon is an up-and-coming young coach who has already shown an ability to effectively teach while relating to his players,” said Foster. “As a former center, he knows the ins and outs of the line and I know he can’t wait to put in work with our guys.”
Last season, Arkansas State was one of the best-rushing teams in the FBS, averaging over 150 yards per game.
Prior to coaching the offensive line at Arkansas State, Kwon was a tight ends coach in 2021 and was a graduate assistant from 2018-20 under Nick Saban at Alabama.
Before his coaching days, Kwon played on the offensive line at Georgia Southern where he was named an All-Sun Belt selection twice in 2015 and 2016.
Lynn is coming to UCLA after spending the last two years as a defensive analyst and assistant player personnel director at Colorado.
Last season, he primarily served as the safeties coach for the Buffaloes who are coming off one of their best seasons in recent memory, finishing with a 9-3 recover overall and are playing in their first bowl game since 2020 against BYU in the Alamo Bowl.
“Gabe Lynn has already grown tremendously as a coach,” said Foster. “He shows an enthusiasm to make young people better and a willingness to adapt with the different responsibilities he’s taken on in his career. We look forward to seeing him get to work with the safeties room.”
Last season, the Buffaloes defense ranked within the top 50 nationally for allowing 205 passing yards per game and 12 interceptions.
Before coaching at Colorado, Lynn was a defensive backs coach and defensive quality control coach at Houston Christian Univeristy. He also is a former player at Oklahoma from 2009-2013 where he was a three year starter. In his senior year, he made 47 tackles, 35 of them were solo tackles.
Since UCLA's season has come to an end, the Bruins have been busy adding to their coaching staff by acquiring Tino Sunseri as their new offensive coordinator while also bringing back Demetrice Martin as the cornerbacks coach and adding Scott White as their new linebackers coach.