Eight months, three games and a hand in an excellent recruiting class into his new job at Penn State, Terry Smith has few complaints.
“It's been really, really exciting,” the former standout Gateway player and coach said about being part of the Nittany Lions' coaching staff. “You couldn't dream of such an outcome for myself career-wise. It's been an exciting opportunity for me to work with such a great staff. Obviously, coming back to Penn State has been so good for not only me but my entire family, as well.
“Starting the season 3-0 and we're playing some good football, I'm just enjoying the ride right now.”
By almost any measure, Smith, Penn State's cornerbacks coach and defensive recruiting coordinator, has played a part in successes during his first season as a coach in Happy Valley and his second at the college level.
• The Lions rank among the top 14 among 125 FBS schools is passing efficiency defense, and the defense overall is seventh in scoring
• Trevor Williams, a cornerback, is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week
• Two of the four true freshman cornerbacks on the roster already have made an on-field impact
• Penn State has secured the WPIAL's top committed prospect for the 2014 and '15 classes (as rated by Rivals.com)
PSU coaches and players say they quickly came to respect Smith, the one “outsider” who hadn't previously coached with the rest of the James Franklin-led staff at Vanderbilt.
Smith is new to current Lions players but not to Penn State. A co-captain in 1991, Smith is one of the school's top all-time receivers.
“He knows what it's like putting on a Penn State uniform, what it's like in Beaver Stadium,” Williams said.
“He understands the history and the tradition, understands the university and the community,” Franklin said. “He connects with the former players. And him obviously having ties and being a very respected high school coach helps as well.”
Smith is responsible for recruiting the WPIAL. As a longtime coach in the area who sent dozens of players to the next level from Gateway, it's a natural fit.
Smith stays in regular contact with not only Pittsburgh-area recruits and their coaches but also those throughout the country via social media and other NCAA-approved methods. Wednesdays are the “call nights” in which he reaches out by phone to prospects who have committed or remain on Penn State's radar.
Smith on Friday is accompanying Franklin in a visit to Pittsburgh-area high schools and prospects.
Knowledgeable in the recruiting process and deeply driven to persuade top players to come to Penn State, Smith's recruiting prowess was described by defensive coordinator Bob Shoop.
“If we're recruiting a good corner or a defensive back, we're a tag team, and it's pretty funny,” said Shoop, who also serves as safeties coach. “My swag comes from sitting in the video room with them and showing them our package and showing them how I can get them to the next level.
“And then Terry takes over with the old-time swag. Terry's got that quiet confidence.”
Though he has switched sides of the ball, Smith's history as a receiver has proven valuable to Penn State's cornerbacks in terms of route recognition and identification of receivers' tendencies.
Smith said he is pleased with the secondary's progress.
“We are a lot better this week than we were (the week of the opener),” he said. “That's a critical piece: Are we improving week to week? And right now, we are making those improvements, and hopefully we'll take another step this week.”
And he's brought it back to his alma mater.
Chris Adamski is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at cadamski@tribweb.com or via Twitter @C_AdamskiTrib.
