Joe Paterno once said that "I hope they write I made Penn State a better place". That can also be said about Terry Smith.

Born in Aliquippa, Terry grew up in a suburb of Pittsburgh. He was safety and kick returner for Gateway High School as a junior, when the Gators tied North Hills 0-0 in 1985 to share the WPIAL 4A title. In a 1986 rematch, Terry quarterbacked the 13-0 Gators to the WPIAL 4A title. In Terry's senior year, he was named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fab 22 team and was selected to play in the 1987 Big 33 Football Classic.

Terry followed in the footsteps of his father and attended Penn State University. Terry was a standout receiver for the Nittany Lions, with 108 receptions for 1,825 yards and 15 touchdowns. In 1991 as a senior, Terry served as team captain and set the single-season record for Nittany Lions receptions at 55.

The Washington Redskins drafted Terry in the 11th round of the 1992 NFL draft, but he was waived before the start of the regular season. Terry caught passes for the Shreveport Pirates in the Canadian Football League in 1994 and 1995 and the Albany Firebirds in the Arena Football League in 1996.

Terry started coaching in 1996 as an assistant for Hempfield High School and spent the next four years as passing coordinator for Duquesne University. Terry returned to Gateway High School as offensive coordinator in 2001 when the team went 3-7. In 2002, Terry took over as head coach, leading the Gators to a 9-3 season and a section title. That year, Terry was named the Times Express Football Coach of the Year and the Quad South Coach of the Year. Over 11 seasons as head coach of the Gators, Terry compiled a 101-30 record, made the WPIAL playoffs each year, and won seven section or conference titles, with four WPIAL 4A runner up finishes. In 2013, Terry served as wide receivers coach for Temple University.

Since 2014, Terry has coached at Penn State, starting as defensive recruiting coordinator and cornerbacks coach. Terry ranked as a top recruiter in the Big Ten, helping secure 12 straight top-25 classes. Terry added a role as assistant head coach in 2016 and as associate head coach in 2021. In the middle of the 2025 season, Terry was promoted to Penn State's interim head coach, leading the team to a 4-3 record and a victory in the Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson. In 2026, Terry resumed his role as associate head coach and cornerbacks coach.

Terry was named one of the Men of Excellence by The New Pittsburgh Courier in 2010, and he was inducted into the Gateway Sports Hall of Fame in 2001, the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame East Boros Chapter in 2009, the WPIAL Hall of Fame in 2018, and Pennsylvania State Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2026.

Terry is married to Alison and has a son, Justin King, and a daughter, Haley Smith.

− Photo courtesy of Penn State University