Chargers coach Anthony Lynn returns to school, earns college degree from UNLV

Los Angeles Chargers coach Anthony Lynn will earn his college degree on Saturday from UNLV, finishing what he started 30 years ago at Texas Tech. (Getty Images)
Los Angeles Chargers coach Anthony Lynn will earn his college degree on Saturday from UNLV, finishing what he started 30 years ago at Texas Tech. (Getty Images)

Los Angeles Chargers coach Anthony Lynn never earned his college degree.

Lynn left Texas Tech just six credit hours shy of completing his degree in exercise sports science, instead signing a contract with the Broncos and moving to Denver.

From there, his NFL career took off, which then transformed into a coaching career.

Earning his degree was put on the back-burner. At least, until now.

Lynn, 49, will walk across the stage at Nevada Las Vegas on Saturday, receiving his degree in interdisciplinary studies and finishing what he started 30 years ago.

“Football has always been my No. 1 priority, and sometimes that’s good, sometimes that’s bad. But I chose football over education,” Lynn told the L.A. Times. “And I kind of did that a few years later when I had a chance to go back, I chose football over education.

“So this time, I thought at some point, no more excuses, just go back and get it done.”

After doing some research, Lynn discovered the six credit hours he needed to graduate had turned into 30. He enrolled at UNLV and took courses in sociology, psychology, public health, exercise and sports science — many of which were online.

Three semesters later, without ever really telling anyone, Lynn finished.

“I don’t think anybody even knew I was back in school,” Lynn told the LA Times. “That’s how I liked it. It’s how I wanted it. I just wanted my papers in the mail. FedEx it to me. That’s how I wanted to go about this.

“I never meant to walk. I never meant to talk about it.”

Lynn will be joined by his family, his mother and Chargers owner Dean Spanos — and will miss the final two days of rookie minicamp — when he receives his diploma on Saturday.

“I was the first person in my family to go to [college], and my mother sat there and watched my son graduate, watched my daughter graduate,” Lynn told the LA Times. “And I just think she’s going to enjoy watching her son graduate.”

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