Terry Smith’s time as Penn State’s interim head coach is winding down, with one final game on the horizon: the Pinstripe Bowl showdown against Clemson. After guiding the Nittany Lions through the final six games of the regular season following James Franklin’s midseason departure, Smith is about to step back into a familiar - yet still evolving - role as the program transitions into the Matt Campbell era.
And while his interim head coaching stint is nearly over, Smith’s future in Happy Valley is far from uncertain.
Just days after Campbell was named Penn State’s new head coach, it was confirmed that Smith would remain on staff. He’ll retain the associate head coach title he’s held since 2021 and will continue as a lead assistant under Campbell.
But beyond that? The specifics are still being sorted out.
What we do know: Smith is locked in with a four-year contract and is expected to be among the highest-paid assistants in college football. What we don’t know: whether he’ll return to coaching cornerbacks - a role he held from 2014 through October 2025 - or take on a new position entirely.
Asked recently about the timeline for finalizing staff roles, Smith kept the focus where it needs to be - on the present.
“The timeline will be first week of January, or somewhere around there,” Smith said during a recent press conference. “The focus right now is on the Pinstripe Bowl.
Obviously, Matt’s focus is on trying to get the staff put together. Once the staff is all together, then titles will come out and specific responsibilities will come out.
But right now, my focus is just trying to get these guys ready to play in this Pinstripe Bowl.”
Pressed on where he might fit best moving forward, Smith didn’t tip his hand - but he did flash some personality.
“I could coach offensive line, wide receivers, running backs, tight ends, quarterbacks, linebackers, safeties, corners, special teams, kickers, snappers,” he said with a grin.
That versatility - and that sense of humor - is part of what’s made Smith such a respected figure in the program. But make no mistake: there are still key decisions to be made as Campbell shapes his first Penn State staff.
Right now, the cornerbacks and running backs positions remain in flux, along with the defensive coordinator role. Since Smith stepped into the interim head coaching job, former Penn State standout Jordan Lucas has led the cornerbacks group. Meanwhile, Stan Drayton is coaching the running backs through the bowl game before heading to South Carolina.
On the defensive side, Anthony Poindexter - the team’s safeties coach since 2021 - will call plays in the Pinstripe Bowl. He’s stepping in for Jim Knowles, who recently left for Tennessee. Penn State has also brought in Deon Broomfield, Iowa State’s former safeties coach, to serve as a “defensive secondary” coach - a move that adds more depth (and more questions) to the defensive staff puzzle.
And while several of Campbell’s trusted assistants from Iowa State are making their way to State College, one name - Iowa State cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat - appears to be a top target for Michigan State’s new regime.
Still, amid all the movement, Smith has made it clear: he wants to be here.
"I've known him. I know what he's about,” Smith said of Campbell.
“At this point in my career I truly can only work for certain types of individuals, and we're aligned at the point of he's blue-collar, he creates toughness, discipline, and just the core values of what Penn State represents. I felt like he was the right leadership at the time, and I wanted to stay a part of it."
For Campbell, keeping Smith wasn’t just a smart move - it was a priority.
“It was critically important for me to keep Terry, in my opinion,” Campbell said. “...
I know what he's about and what he stands for. Building a staff is so critical because you need to build it around the same character values as who you are and what you want your team to stand for.”
Campbell praised Smith’s steady hand in a turbulent stretch - not just in keeping the locker room intact, but in serving as a bridge between past and present.
"It's been so awesome to watch his commitment to Penn State, how he's led this football program and football team through tough and trying times," Campbell said. "It's been rewarding.
I know he's the cornerstone of this program as a player, as a student-athlete, and now as an incredible football coach. It is my honor to work hand in hand with Terry to build on this great foundation moving forward."
Smith’s ties to Penn State run deep. He played wide receiver for the Nittany Lions and graduated in 1991.
His father was a Penn State graduate. His children are Penn State alumni.
And since 2014, he’s been a fixture on the coaching staff - mentoring defensive backs and leading recruiting efforts with relentless energy.
That institutional knowledge and emotional investment haven’t gone unnoticed.
“Terry's leadership, his ability to hold the locker room together, his ability to be very honest and transparent with the players - all of that really helped us get to where we are today in a really, really good spot," Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft said earlier this month.
For Kraft, the decision to keep Smith in blue and white wasn’t just easy - it was obvious.
"I think I've got best football coach in the country and I've got a partner for him who is Penn State, who will fight for Penn State, lead his kids,” Kraft said. “I don't know about you, but I feel really good about our chances moving forward."
So while the Pinstripe Bowl marks the end of one chapter for Terry Smith, it’s also the beginning of another. His exact role in 2026 may still be up in the air, but one thing is clear: he’s not going anywhere - and Penn State is better for it.