Ron Vanderlinden has filled the linebacker coaching vacancy that Al Golden left behind last month.

Golden left Penn State after he was named the defensive coordinator of the University of Virginia.

Vanderlinden comes to Penn State after a two-year stretch as the head coach of Maryland.

Although Vanderlinden was unsuccessful in trying to bring the Terrapins back to respectability, he has spent five seasons in the Big Ten as a defensive coordinator under former Northwestern head coach Gary Barnett.

"Penn State is one of the top five programs in the country that has had such great tradition and is well respected," Vanderlinden said.

"It felt like their coaches on both sides of the ball did a lot of scheming things to prepare for each game. I also like the fact that their graduation rate is so high. It goes to show that coach Paterno has his students work hard without comprising his beliefs on the football field."

In his two years at Maryland, he was unable to get the Terrapins above .500. He went 5-6 in each of his two seasons there. Vanderlinden was released at the end of the season.

Known for his development of tough defenses Vanderlinden was the mastermind behind Northwestern's 1995 defense that ranked first overall in scoring defense, and second in turnover margin.

It was that year Northwestern went to the Rose Bowl and went 8-0 in conference.

Under Vanderlinden, some of best linebackers that have come out of Big Ten in the last 10 years have crossed paths with Vanderlinden, including two-time All-Big Ten and 1996 All-American Pat Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald finished his career at Northwestern by winning the Butkus Award, which is given to the best linebacker in the country that season. Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker Barry Gardner played under him when he was a linebacker at Northwestern as well.

"We are delighted to land someone with Ron Vanderlinden's credentials for our defensive staff," Penn State head coach Joe Paterno said in a press release yesterday.

"We had great admiration for the job he did with the Northwestern defensive tenure in Evanston and the progress he made in improving the Maryland situation.

"Ron's knowledge of defensive football and has been a marvelous teacher and mentor to his players everywhere he's been," he said. "We know that he will be an excellent addition to our staff."

Vanderlinden said he met with Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley a couple of times and is looking forward to being a part of the Penn State.

Vanderlinden is expected to join the staff today when he will meet with some of the other coaches.

He joins the staff in a crucial part of the recruiting period and is expected to help out with the progress.