Penn State football cornerbacks coach, defensive recruiting coordinator, and associate head coach Terry Smith has been named the interim head coach following James Franklin’s firing on Sunday, Penn State Athletics announced.

Smith, a former Penn State player himself, is in his 12th season as part of Penn State’s coaching staff. He came into the program with Franklin in his first year at the helm in 2014 as a defensive recruiting coordinator and cornerbacks coach. He added an assistant head coach role from 2016 to 2020 before elevating to the associate head coach role in 2021, which he has held until now alongside his two other responsibilities.

Smith and Franklin formed a deep connection over the last decade together. Franklin described Smith as “invaluable” to the program in 2023 and a key part of Penn State’s success in the recruiting sphere.

247Sports ranked Smith as the No. 4 recruiter in the Big Ten in 2023. Smith has played instrumental roles in building some of Penn State’s best recruiting classes ever, including the Nittany Lions’ No. 6-ranked 2018 class.

Not only has Smith helped create a dominant Penn State recruiting background, but he continues the development of cornerbacks through his coaching prowess. He has coached a total of 19 future NFL players. Smith’s latest player to get a shot in the league is Jalen Kimber, who signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent. Kimber recently signed with the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad.

Before coaching at Penn State, Smith spent time as an assistant coach at Hempfield High School, passing coordinator at Duquesne, offensive coordinator turned head coach turned athletic director at Gateway High School, and wide receivers coach at Temple.

Smith played for the Nittany Lions from 1987 to 1991 as a wide receiver. The Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, native started for three years and is tied for 12th in career receiving touchdowns with 15. Smith is also 16th in career receiving yards with 1,825 and 18th in career receptions with 108. He graduated with a degree in Business Management in 1991.

The Washington Redskins drafted Smith in the 11th round of the 1992 NFL Draft. His NFL career was short-lived as he moved to the CFL after his rookie season, playing a total of three years between the Toronto Argonauts and Shreveport Pirates. Smith switched leagues once more to the Arena Football League (AFL) in 1996 as he suited up for the Albany Firebirds before starting his coaching career.

Smith suddenly finds himself at the helm of a reeling Penn State program that just dropped its third consecutive game and its second straight game as over 20-point favorites. He will work with redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer to help steer the ship following Drew Allar’s season-ending injury. It’s a whole new look for Penn State after all was swell three weeks ago.

Smith will take over for the remainder of the season as Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Pat Kraft will lead a national search for the next head coach.