Penn State interim head football coach Terry Smith repeated Monday that he wants to be named the permanent coach but he wouldn’t definitively say whether there has been a job interview scheduled.
“I think there will be an opportunity to sit with Pat (director of athletics Pat Kraft),” Smith said. “We’ll just go from there.”
The 56-year-old Smith was named the interim coach Oct. 12 after Kraft fired James Franklin in the middle of his 12th season following a one-point loss to Northwestern that dropped the Nittany Lions to 3-3.
Smith has guided Penn State to a 2-3 record, including decisive wins over Nebraska and Michigan State the last two weeks. The Lions (2-6 Big Ten, 5-6) need to beat Rutgers (2-6, 5-6) Saturday at 3:30 (TV-BTN) in New Jersey in the regular season finale to become bowl eligible.
“I love Penn State,” he said. “I would be open to any possibilities of staying here. Obviously I would like to be the head coach. But this week, I’m worried about Rutgers. My goal is to finish this season with three victories in a row and get us bowl eligible.”
Smith received much support last Saturday during and after the Lions’ romp past the Cornhuskers. Students and fans chanted, “Terry! Terry! Terry!” in the second half. Printed signs that read, “Hire Terry Smith,” were distributed to fans and even players.
Former Penn State quarterback and team captain Michael Robinson, who now works for NBC Sports, said during the telecast that he talked with “hundreds” of former players and “every single one of them” felt that Smith should be named the permanent coach.
“Obviously the support that the lettermen are giving me, especially Michael Robinson doing that means we’re doing something right,” Smith said. “Just trying to create a culture for our team to play hard and play tough and for our fans to get behind us and support us and stay in our corner.”
Smith has been more intentional about pushing his own candidacy in the last week or so, saying immediately after the Nebraska game, “I have gifts that I don’t even realize.”
“I’m a leader of men,” he said then. “You guys see it. You’re witnessing it every day. … My resume is on display every day that you guys watch this. Tell me what you think.”
Smith was asked Monday why he thinks he’s the best candidate to be Penn State’s permanent head coach.
“No one knows Penn State better than me of all the candidates that are out there,” he said. “I know the history of Penn State. I know the culture, the DNA. I know the locker room. I know the administration.
“I think I’m a good leader. I think I’m a leader of men. That will take care of itself when the time comes.”
Smith said he remains in contact with Franklin, who was hired last week as Virginia Tech’s head coach. Smith was one of Franklin’s first hires at Penn State and the longest-tenured member of his staff, coaching the cornerbacks and being promoted to associate head coach.
“I’ve spoken to James several times, maybe like every other day or so and sometimes every day,” he said. “Just picking his brain. James is very organized and very structured.
“Even when we lost the staff members and we had to reorganize, he’s been a mentor to me that I can bounce some ideas off of. He’s been great.”
Smith didn’t realize how hectic the head coaching job is, even on an interim basis. He and his family have received “random gifts” at home in the last six weeks.
“It’s a big deal,” Smith said. “It’s crazy. This job is very busy. …There are reasons why things are happening that you just don’t know. It’s a very, very busy role being the head coach. Someone’s knocking on your door every five minutes for something that’s going on in the program.
“It’s good. It’s busy. I really enjoy it. You have to be very organized to be successful in this role because a lot of things can go over your head.”
