It’s the perfect time of year for enjoying your favorite Christmas movies with your family.
Penn State football coach Terry Smith was understandably emotional following his first win with the team.
Smith began the season as the Nittany Lions’ associate head coach behind James Franklin, who had been the team’s head coach since 2014 and was instrumental in turning the team into a powerhouse.
The high expectations continued in 2025, but came crashing to a halt halfway through the season.
Despite a 3-0 start to the season, Penn State went on to lose its next three games and lost its starting quarterback Drew Allar for the season to injury before the team decided to part ways with Franklin.
On Oct. 12, one day after the team’s loss to Northwestern, Smith — a former Penn State letterman, wide receiver and team captain — was announced as the interim head coach of his former alma mater.
The team went on to lose its next three games to fall to 3-6 on the season.
But on Nov. 15, Penn State finally ended their skid — and Smith finally earned his first win as head coach.
Smith was bathed in Gatorade and hoisted on his team’s shoulders as the playcock hit zero. He was later awarded a game ball by team captain Nick Dawkins in the postgame locker room.
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Two days later, the 56-year-old coach opened up about what transpired after his first victory.
“I have two phones. Each phone had about 500 text messages on it, plus direct messages was like another 500 or 600, so it was really busy,” he said in a Nov. 17 press conference.
“I’ve been reached out to by basically every person I’ve ever known in my entire life. People are super proud of me. It’s very humbling for me,” he continued.
Smith went on to say that it was the first time he had ever been lifted off the field in his career.
Terry Smith credits his father for paving the way for this opportunity
As his emotions shined through, Smith was asked why coaching Penn State means so much to him.
And he quickly credited his father for making it all possible.
“My dad graduated in ’68. It’s all we knew,” he said of his father, Harvey Smith Sr., who graduated from Penn State University in 1968.
“I’m from a small town called Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. And it’s not a very nice place,” Smith continued. “My dad, through his education at Penn State, moved us to the other side of Pittsburgh, to Monroeville.”
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Smith went on to credit his father for giving his family “a better life” because of his Penn State education, which helped teach him “about possibilities in life” and the opportunity to “be whatever you want to be.”
“This place has done so much for me and my family. I think we have nine or 10 family members that have Penn State degrees. I have, I think, three who are students now — family members,” Smith continued.
“This place is special. It’s amazing. I just want to give back to it. I just want to make sure I’m holding up my end of the bargain and putting out a team that everyone can be proud of,” he added.
Smith was a star quarterback at Gateway High School in Monroeville, PA before being recruited to play for the Nittany Lions.
Nicknamed Superfly, Smith was a three-year starter and four-year letter winner at the school from 1988 and 1991, and was instrumental in helping the team play in three consecutive bowl games.
As of 2025, Penn State’s coach has the 12th-most receiving touchdowns, 16th-most receiving yards and 18th-most receptions in Penn State history, according to Sports Reference.
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“I don’t think anything has made me or my family happier than this opportunity. I’m thankful for all my friends, my family, my supporters,” he said in his press conference.
