Next coaching candidates

[LudicrousSpeedGO!]

Dabo Swinney was never a coordinator before getting the top job at Clemson.

There are other successful coaches who've never been coordinators. Urban Meyer, Don Nehlen. Kirk Ferentz was a head coach at Maine, his alma mater, without being a coordinator. He was a position coach in the NFL before Iowa hired him. I don't think there's any football reason a position coach can't make the jump.

Why didn't Franklin promote him? Franklin tended to go outside for coordinator hires. I would guess because he didn't like upsetting the dynamics within the staff.

In the NFL, if the AI is correct, you have John Harbaugh and Andy Reid as a couple of examples of position coaches who were never coordinators before becoming head coaches. The main issue I'd see with Terry is not football, but some of the behind the scenes I'd imagine head coaches do to curry favor with rich alumni. But Franklin must not have done that all that well or he'd still have his job.

Swinney appears to have made the jump when the head coach and offensive coordinator were fired. Swinney was next up as interim head coach and offensive coordinator. He was also the recruiting coordinator. He appears to have had more responsibilities than Terry did but he did make the jump at what was not a top program at the time. Clemson was 9-5 and then 6-7 before jumping to 10-4 in the ensuing seasons in a weak ACC. So, there is some precedent at a middling power 4 school in a weak conference. It did take him 3 years, but Clemson finished #22 in the polls in that 3rd year. IMO, this is the best-case scenario for Terry if he were offered the head job.

Urban was a head coach at Bowling Green before taking over a major program. Nehlen was head coach at Bowling Green St before WVU (who I don't consider a major program at the level of PSU and neither should you).

You have added a data point that I had not realized, Swinney. The circumstances were similar but at a lesser program in a lesser conference and Swinney appears to have had more responsibilities prior to his promotion than Terry. But it can now be said that there is a precedent even if it is a needle in the haystack.

For the record, if they go the route of hiring Terry, I would be 100% behind him and the team. However, I remain convinced that it has a low probability of success and would require massive scaffolding in place for Terry to have a chance at that success.

 

[LudicrousSpeedGO!]

Wait I know this one, TERRY SMITH lol. He did coach 6 games, and did very well with a bunch of player's that had nothing to play for other than for him, and Penn State pride. If you can't see that, you are not very observant.

I did see that and I've stated that before. That doesn't magically make him have the experience to have a high probability of success as the permanent head coach without a 2026 recruiting class (2 players) and nearly all of our formerly #1 2027 class probably with at least 1 foot out the door. I love Terry. I don't put his chances at being successful as the head guy very high. We would literally need $100M from donors at $25M per year to surround Terry with the coaching and NIL support to have a shot at being successful.

 

[Pennstate_one]

Just list all of the successful head coaches of top power 4 programs who were promoted internally from position coach with no coordinator experience directly to head coach and we can discuss their track records.

It's basically Dabo and Ed orgeron. Maybe Terry could be the next good one though.

 

[Gitzit]

Pretty sure I heard someone say Terry was recruiting coordinator?
I looked it up.

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• A standout wide receiver at Penn State, Terry M. Smith is in his 12th season in 2025 as the Nittany Lions’ defensive recruiting coordinator and cornerbacks coach, and his fifth as associate head coach.
• The No. 4-ranked recruiter in the Big Ten in 2023 by 247Sports, Smith has helped PSU secure 12-straight top-25 classes, including a top-5 class in 2018, a top-6 class in 2022 and top-15 classes in nine of the last 11 years.
• Smith has played a pivotal role developing seven Penn State cornerback draft picks since 2015, tied for first nationally.
• With new starting corners in 2024, Penn State ranked fourth in the FBS in interceptions, seventh in total defense (294.8), eighth in scoring defense (16.5), 10th in takeaways (26) and 13th in passes defended (72).
• In their first year with the program in 2024, cornerbacks A.J. Harris (third team) and Jalen Kimber (honorable mention) earned All-Big Ten honors.
• He led a cornerback room in 2023 which featured three All-Big Ten honorees in Kalen King (second team), Johnny Dixon (third team) and Daequan Hardy (third team), as Penn State finished second in the country in total defense and seventh in passing defense (172.1).

https://gopsusports.com/staff/terry-m-smith

 

[Sheriff Coffee]

Well well well. No shite. If they'd done that after the Nebraska game, we'd be in a whole lot better shape than we are now:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1996310375906619462

BIG F U to Kraft.

 

[Gitzit]

I did see that and I've stated that before. That doesn't magically make him have the experience to have a high probability of success as the permanent head coach without a 2026 recruiting class (2 players) and nearly all of our formerly #1 2027 class probably with at least 1 foot out the door. I love Terry. I don't put his chances at being successful as the head guy very high. We would literally need $100M from donors at $25M per year to surround Terry with the coaching and NIL support to have a shot at being successful.

I'm all in on spending their money lol. Let's hire Terry, and go to plaid !!

 

[LionDeNittany]

BIG F U to Kraft.

Ntrly

 

[Big104EvuhDuh]

EVERY potential coach out there knows this and knows that PSU has been the gold standard in coaching stability up until this point. They know Franklin had to go and they know that he was given over a decade. If I'm a top candidate, I see elite level resources and the history of coaching stability and know that I can be a long-term success at PSU.

Sure PSU is the Gold Standard of coaching stability- the Paterno years, ensuing fallout and semi-cult remnants should be a shining beacon for the stability minded!

Sure top candidates see elite resources, plenty of stability and long term success here!

That helps explain why there have been so many vacancies and so little interest in the stable, high paying high reward job at PSU! That you, a fan, can gleefully explain away Franklin's entire body of work in 5 bullet points, impugn his motives, mental toughness, and fitness as a person should be a big plus to coaching prospects. No variance or nuance here: Just razor sharp fan analysis that's incontrovertible! A 3-game skid including an OT loss to a top 10 team and you can expect that the fans will bully the AD into making a decision next game. What's not to like?

I wonder what all these real-world coaching candidates aren't seeing?

 

[Frank Lee]

Sure PSU is the Gold Standard of coaching stability- the Paterno years, ensuing fallout and semi-cult remnants should be a shining beacon for the stability minded!

Sure top candidates see elite resources, plenty of stability and long term success here!

That helps explain why there have been so many vacancies and so little interest in the stable, high paying high reward job at PSU! That you, a fan, can gleefully explain away Franklin's entire body of work in 5 bullet points, impugn his motives, mental toughness, and fitness as a person should be a big plus to coaching prospects. No variance or nuance here: Just razor sharp fan analysis that's incontrovertible! A 3-game skid including an OT loss to a top 10 team and you can expect that the fans will bully the AD into making a decision next game. What's not to like?

I wonder what all these real-world coaching candidates aren't seeing?

Exactly. And these guys are barely making minimum wage. There are better jobs at the same measly pay where there is no scrutiny or accountability.

 

[Pennstate_one]

Sure PSU is the Gold Standard of coaching stability- the Paterno years, ensuing fallout and semi-cult remnants should be a shining beacon for the stability minded!

Sure top candidates see elite resources, plenty of stability and long term success here!

That helps explain why there have been so many vacancies and so little interest in the stable, high paying high reward job at PSU! That you, a fan, can gleefully explain away Franklin's entire body of work in 5 bullet points, impugn his motives, mental toughness, and fitness as a person should be a big plus to coaching prospects. No variance or nuance here: Just razor sharp fan analysis that's incontrovertible! A 3-game skid including an OT loss to a top 10 team and you can expect that the fans will bully the AD into making a decision next game. What's not to like?

I wonder what all these real-world coaching candidates aren't seeing?

I hear your point "new member". PSU isn’t spotless and no program is as stable as fans pretend. But it’s still a top job with real resources, huge support, and a strong history once a coach actually gets the job. Every big program has fans who get emotional. A good coach isn’t running from expectations. They look at the upside and the tools they’d have here.

By the way, I still stand firm that Franklin was not the answer and he had plenty of time to prove otherwise. It had to happen.

 

[NittanyLion99]

That's what I don't understand. If I understand Franklin's contract, we wouldn't have owed him any money once he signed with VT. Yet we gave him $9M, and hours later he signed with VT. We didn't save $41M, we lost $9M. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

As I understand things, the buyout required him to seek "similar employment" and the ~$50M buyout would ultimately be the difference between the buyout and his his new salary. I believe it would be paid annually, so it would be the annual difference between PSU and VT.
His contract with VT is through 2030. His contract with PSU was through 2030.
All of this could create some residual risk for PSU in out years.
Instead of letting this contract hand around for 6 years, they agreed to a one-time payment to resolve the buyout clause.
Consider it a divorce with no alimony. Everyone walks away clean and gets on with their life, unencumbered, instead of having a legal matter hanging out and annual payments to be negotiated and paid and talked about in the media.

James Franklin buyout with Penn State drastically reduced amid Virginia Tech hiring

Franklin was owed $49 million over the next six years after Penn State fired him, but the two sides negotiated a drastically reduced number

www.cbssports.com

 

[NittanyLion99]

Wait I know this one, TERRY SMITH lol. He did coach 6 games, and did very well with a bunch of player's that had nothing to play for other than for him, and Penn State pride. If you can't see that, you are not very observant.

One time, my boss's boss went on sabbatical and I covered some functions for him while he was gone. I did a fine job, but that didn't put me in a position to take his VP role when he left the next year.

Terry was a High School HC. After that, he's been a college CB's coach for 12 years. He has been an AHC for most of that time, yet he was not considered for DC whenever any of the DCs departed PSU, even as recently as this year. IDK why that is. I suspect no one on this board has any idea. In his own comments, Smith stated that he had no knowledge or involvement in the offense as AHC.

We will see, but all of this seems a leap too far for Smith to become the HC at Penn State

 

[Pennstate_one]

One time, my boss's boss went on sabbatical and I covered some functions for him while he was gone. I did a fine job, but that didn't put me in a position to take his VP role when he left the next year.

Terry was a High School HC. After that, he's been a college CB's coach for 12 years. He has been an AHC for most of that time, yet he was not considered for DC whenever any of the DCs departed PSU, even as recently as this year. IDK why that is. I suspect no one on this board has any idea. In his own comments, Smith stated that he had no knowledge or involvement in the offense as AHC.

We will see, but all of this seems a leap too far for Smith to become the HC at Penn State

The bottom line is this. End the misery and I'll support whoever they make the head coach! Something different than James was.

 

[Administrator]

Just list all of the successful head coaches of top power 4 programs who were promoted internally from position coach with no coordinator experience directly to head coach and we can discuss their track records.

Dabo isn't successful enough for you?

 

[Gitzit]

One time, my boss's boss went on sabbatical and I covered some functions for him while he was gone. I did a fine job, but that didn't put me in a position to take his VP role when he left the next year.

Terry was a High School HC. After that, he's been a college CB's coach for 12 years. He has been an AHC for most of that time, yet he was not considered for DC whenever any of the DCs departed PSU, even as recently as this year. IDK why that is. I suspect no one on this board has any idea. In his own comments, Smith stated that he had no knowledge or involvement in the offense as AHC.

We will see, but all of this seems a leap too far for Smith to become the HC at Penn State

Sounds like you are not a leader, just a follower. Penn State needs to stop the bleeding and hire Terry to keep what's left of this team. Maybe he won;t be a good head coach, nobody knows. If not, then hire another coach in a few years. and take what was learned and do it better.

This football team is in a plane on a disastrous nosedive, and somebody needs to pull it up. Terry could do that if given a chance IMO

 

[Administrator]

Swinney appears to have made the jump when the head coach and offensive coordinator were fired. Swinney was next up as interim head coach and offensive coordinator. He was also the recruiting coordinator. He appears to have had more responsibilities than Terry did but he did make the jump at what was not a top program at the time. Clemson was 9-5 and then 6-7 before jumping to 10-4 in the ensuing seasons in a weak ACC. So, there is some precedent at a middling power 4 school in a weak conference. It did take him 3 years, but Clemson finished #22 in the polls in that 3rd year. IMO, this is the best-case scenario for Terry if he were offered the head job.

Urban was a head coach at Bowling Green before taking over a major program. Nehlen was head coach at Bowling Green St before WVU (who I don't consider a major program at the level of PSU and neither should you).

You have added a data point that I had not realized, Swinney. The circumstances were similar but at a lesser program in a lesser conference and Swinney appears to have had more responsibilities prior to his promotion than Terry. But it can now be said that there is a precedent even if it is a needle in the haystack.

For the record, if they go the route of hiring Terry, I would be 100% behind him and the team. However, I remain convinced that it has a low probability of success and would require massive scaffolding in place for Terry to have a chance at that success.

Middling Power 4 school in a weak conference? Have we ever beaten Clemson? How's Ohio State's record against Clemson? Not winning, for sure.

 

[marylovesthelions]

Wait I know this one, TERRY SMITH lol. He did coach 6 games, and did very well with a bunch of player's that had nothing to play for other than for him, and Penn State pride. If you can't see that, you are not very observant.

? He beat 3 very, very bad teams. At this point, he may be the only choice. No matter what, we are. What a mess! On the bright side, I might get a better deal on tickets to 2 games next year.

 

[Pennstate_one]

? He beat 3 very, very bad teams. At this point, he may be the only choice. No matter what, we are. What a mess! On the bright side, I might get a better deal on tickets to 2 games next year.

I get where you’re coming from, but beating bad teams doesn’t really tell us much either way. College football isn’t the same as it used to be. If Terry ends up being the guy, he’s not going to be dropped in there alone. With the staff sizes now, analysts, portal help, NIL people, recruiting support, you can surround a head coach with everything he needs so he can focus on football. If he can lead a room and keep the roster together, the rest can be built around him. It’s not as doom and gloom as it sounds.

The way this has been handled does stink though.

 

[Jerry]

BIG F U to Kraft.

The problem now with regard to Terry is that Kraft has boxed himself in. If he goes to Terry at this late date after so much damage has been done, he's going to look like an idiot since the obvious question would become why not weeks ago when we had a chance to end this circus and hold on to some portion of our 2026 recruiting class.

Kraft's ego will not let him make the move now. So the flailing continues. I'm thinking it's going to end up being Daboli but who knows.

Meanwhile, if you're in the mood for some irony and humor, here are two headlines yesterday that will do the trick for you:

First, over the last several weeks a bunch of coaches have leveraged Penn State's interest in them into a combined $370 million worth of contract extensions at their current schools.

Second, on signing day, Franklin openly trolled Kraft by showily serving a box of Crumbl cookies at the Hokies signing day ceremony. Recall that it was the Crumbl CEO, a big BYU fan, who stepped in to sweeten an extension deal for Sitake after it looked like Penn State was ready to hire him.

 

[Nemo]

The problem now with regard to Terry is that Kraft has boxed himself in. If he goes to Terry at this late date after so much damage has been done, he's going to look like an idiot since the obvious question would become why not weeks ago when we had a chance to end this circus and hold on to some portion of our 2026 recruiting class.

Kraft's ego will not let him make the move now. So the flailing continues. I'm thinking it's going to end up being Daboli but who knows.

Meanwhile, if you're in the mood for some irony and humor, here are two headlines yesterday that will do the trick for you:

First, over the last several weeks a bunch of coaches have leveraged Penn State's interest in them into a combined $370 million worth of contract extensions at their current schools.

Second, on signing day, Franklin openly trolled Kraft by showily serving a box of Crumbl cookies at the Hokies signing day ceremony. Recall that it was the Crumbl CEO, a big BYU fan, who stepped in to sweeten an extension deal for Sitake after it looked like Penn State was ready to hire him.

If it is true that Kraft is unwilling to change his mind, which is believable, then he is completely unqualified for a leadership position. Real leaders will accept that they made a mistake.