Terry Smith (American football, born 1969)

Personupdated 2025-11-23 10:32
Terry Smith (American football, born 1969)

Terry Smith is an American college football coach and former player currently serving as interim head coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions. He was promoted to this position in October 2025 after the dismissal of the previous head coach. Smith has a long history with the university, having played as a wide receiver for Penn State from 1987 to 1991 and later serving as associate head coach and cornerbacks coach from 2021 until his interim appointment.

His current role is notable as he leads a major college football program during a transitional period. Smith's deep ties to Penn State, both as an alumnus and a long-tenured assistant coach, make him a significant figure in the program's recent history. His promotion to interim head coach represents a key moment for the team following a mid-season leadership change.

Smith has recently been in the news due to his leadership during the final games of the 2025 season. Media coverage has highlighted his symbolic gesture of wearing a '409' button to honor legendary Penn State coach Joe Paterno during his final home game as interim coach. News outlets have also focused on his team preparation for season-ending matches and ongoing discussions about the program's future coaching search, demonstrating the continued attention on his interim tenure.

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