Throughout the last almost two months, and particularly over the past several weeks, people wondered if Penn State would promote interim HC Terry Smith to the full-time position
They also wondered if Smith would stay at Penn State regardless.
We got both answers on Friday night.
That was when Penn State reached an agreement with Matt Campbell to be its next football coach.
It Is Over: Long, Winding Penn State Coaching Search Ends With Matt Campbell
Within an hour, word spread that Smith would be staying on staff, and the next day, we learned that Smith would be the highest-paid non-coordinator in the country.
At a pre-Pinstripe Bowl availability with media via Zoom Tuesday, Smith explained why he stayed at Penn State.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.WHAT SMITH SAID
“Yeah, my love for the university. I’ve expressed that time after time. I love the university. I’ve known Matt Campbell for 15-plus years, when I was a high school head coach at Gateway High School. Matt was at that time the head coach at Toledo, University of Toledo. He recruited my high school. We went up there, had done some seven-on-seven camps there, and just had a relationship with him. I’ve known him. I know what he’s about. At this point in my career, I truly can only work for certain types of individuals, and we’re aligned at the point that 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 leader at the time, and I wanted to stay a part of it. It’s worked out for my family.
Obviously, I’m excited that Matt is welcoming me to his staff.”
CAMPBELL ON SMITH
At Campbell’s introductory press conference Monday afternoon, he spoke about Smith before he was even asked about him, and dove into the two’s relationship before becoming co-workers.
“We loved to go recruit his players because you know if you got a great player from Terry, you knew what they stood for and it was bigger than just football,” Campbell said. “It’s been so awesome to watch his commitment to Penn State and watch how he’s led this football program and football team through tough and trying times. It’s been rewarding.”
“I know he’s the cornerstone of his 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.”
