UConn reportedly is one of at least two teams with an opening at head coach that has an interest in Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith.

That’s according to Jordan Schultz of “The Schultz Report,” an NFL insider who identified UConn and Memphis as two schools that could court Smith.

Smith, 56, was promoted from associate head coach and cornerbacks coach to the interim job after Penn State fired James Franklin on Oct. 12. His dismissal came after three consecutive losses in the Big Ten left the Nittany Lions 3-3 to start the season.

Under Smith, Penn State lost its first three games – to Iowa, to No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana – before closing out with three conference wins to become bowl-eligible. Those victories came against Michigan State, Nebraska and Rutgers.

Some Penn State alums have chimed in with their opinions that athletic director Pat Kraft should hire Smith for the permanent position. Green Bay Packers star Micah Parsons was the most recent former Penn State player to voice support for Smith.

On the day Smith was promoted to interim, Kraft said Smith would be considered for the job – and they just might up doing so. Already Matt Rhule (Nebraska), Curt Cignetti (Indiana), Kalani Sitake (BYU), Jeff Brohm (Louisville) and Kalen DeBoer (Alabama) reportedly have either turned down a job offer or declined to be considered for the position.

On3 reported Thursday that Penn State now is targeting Iowa State coach Matt Campbell, whose name comes up as a potential candidate in every hiring cycle. He has declined to leave the Cyclones thus far.

If Campbell – or another current head coach – takes the job, it is unlikely Smith would remain on staff, possibly making him available for UConn.

Then again, if Penn State can't hire a big-name coach, they just might stick with Smith.

The Terry Smith file

Smith is a legend in Pennsylvania high school circles after leading Gateway High School to Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League titles in 1985 and ’86. He went on to play wide receiver at Penn State from 1987-91.

Later, Smith spent five seasons in four pro leagues before beginning his coaching career in 1996 at the high school level. After a stint at Duquesne, he returned to Gateway and was on the coaching staff from 2001-12 before moving to Temple in 2013 and Penn State in 2014.

Smith has not been a coordinator or a head coach in college.

UConn needs to fill the opening left behind when Jim Mora was hired last week to be the head coach at Colorado State. The Huskies finished 9-3 and still have a bowl game.

At Memphis, Ryan Silverfield announced his resignation to take the head coach job at Arkansas.

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