Penn State coach Terry Smith discusses friendship with Indiana’s Curt Cignetti
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It’s been a whirlwind 2025 for Terry Smith.
He first joined the football staff at Penn State in 2014 when James Franklin got the head coaching job and brought him in to coach the Nittany Lion cornerbacks and lead defensive recruiting efforts. A Pennsylvania lifer, Smith donned the blue and white himself as a team captain and one of the greatest receivers in program history. Smith has held a few roles with the program ever since, most recently as associate head coach.
Circumstances demanded he take on a new title this season: interim head coach.
Penn State parted ways with Franklin earlier this season following a disappointing start with three consecutive losses in Big Ten play. Needing someone to lead the team through what’s left of 2025, the Nittany Lions turned to Smith.
Smith had plenty of support in taking on the new role including from and old friend and fellow head coach: Indiana’s Curt Cignetti.
“Curt Cignetti is a friend of mine,” Smith said in his opening statement during his press conference this week. “He reached out to me when all this went down, so I am appreciative to him. He’s a Pittsburgh guy and we go way back from his dad being a coach at IUP, and I know the whole family. It’s a great relationship, and just looking forward to being home in Beaver Stadium in front of our fans.”
Smith elaborated further after receiving a follow-up question, calling Cignetti an “outstanding coach,” while noting the amount of respect he has for the work he’s done.
“You know, he runs a great program,” Smith said. “Obviously at JMU and all the places he’s been, Elon, just everywhere he’s had success. Guys buy into the program, and once you get buy-in and trust, you go do some special things. That’s what he’s doing right now. He’s got those guys playing as good as anyone in the country. I respect everything he’s doing and he’s doing it the right way.”
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