Penn State football assistant head coach and cornerbacks coach Terry Smith bleeds blue and white. In 2025, taking over as interim head coach for the Nittany Lions following the firing of now Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin, Smith told CBS Sports that adapting to the role "was like riding a bike."
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Smith re-instilled hope in the Penn State locker room, even though the team didn't get back in the win column until Week 11 against Michigan State.
"To take over at Penn State at that moment, it was a difficult situation, but I embraced it. The first couple weeks, it took me, I guess it was like riding a bike. It took me a couple of weeks or a couple spins of the bike to get settled back into being in charge of everything," Smith told Rich Walsh.
Terry Smith says taking over Penn State in 2025 "was like riding a bike"
Smith's work didn't go unnoticed or unappreciated. His connection to the players and staff made him a prime candidate for the head coaching job.
The way the Nittany Lions rallied behind him spoke volumes. They held up signs reading "Hire Terry Smith," following their win versus Nebraska and continued pushing for him to be a top head coaching pick for athletic director Pat Kraft.
"They were chanting my name in the stadium and it was like something out of a movie," Smith said to Walsh. "I'm almost speechless in it. It's so humbling to know so many people love you and care for you and genuinely want good things to happen for you."Â
When Matt Campbell ultimately got the job in Happy Valley, it was a no-brainer to keep Smith on the staff. For Smith, it was a no-brainer to stay with his alma mater and continue bringing pride to Penn State, head coach or not.
His ability to build relationships and make meaningful connections extends beyond the current roster.
Since staying on the staff, Smith helped redeem the Nittany Lions' 2027 recruiting class. They added three defensive backs — Ka'ron Ceasar, Semajay Robinson, and Zachary Gleason Jr. — to kickstart their previously empty class.