Penn State is still looking. The Nittany Lions decided to fire longtime coach James Franklin back in October. The fans and alumni were furious. It was a bold move. And unfortunately, AD Pat Kraft has not found a replacement. Many of the candidates have used this opportunity to land extensions at their existing schools. The list of NOs continues to grow. Franklin has since landed at Virginia Tech. Several of his guys and recruits have followed. PSU is in shambles. No coach for the early signing period. Ouch. We were one play away from the national championship game last winter. Now we are facing many uncertainties. Be careful what you wish for, kids. Any thoughts, Teach?
My alma mater is winning. Congratulations to Glenn Smith. Lycoming College named him as the new Director of Athletics this week. Another no-brainer. A great hire. Glenn will serve as the inaugural standalone director. This position was previously shared by other coaches. Bravo to Dr. Chip Edmonds. This is fantastic. I feel like going for a jog.
Glenn has long been a guiding presence in the Warrior community. He served the previous eleven years as Lycoming’s Director of Athletics Development. Smith oversaw our Warrior Club and secured several major gifts. Glenn will now oversee the entire department. He will take on responsibility for providing strategic leadership and oversight to all of Lycoming College’s intercollegiate athletics programs as an NCAA Division III institution, with an emphasis on the recruitment and development of student-athletes, compliance with NCAA regulations, Title IX, strategic oversight of coaches and programs, fundraising initiatives and working with the student affairs team to integrate athletics into the broader campus community.
“I am very pleased that Glenn has accepted the opportunity to serve as our next athletic director. Glenn’s extensive experience in athletics fundraising, program management, student and alumni engagement, and external relations, all anchored in a first-rate career as a student-athlete at Lycoming College, positions him exceedingly well to lead our athletics program,” said Dr. Chip Edmonds, president of Lycoming College, via Facebook. “I look forward to the ways Glenn will build on his strong institutional relationships and partner with our dedicated coaches, athletics staff, and student affairs colleagues to further contribute to a culture of academic excellence and programs that compete at the highest levels of NCAA Division III athletics.”
A former Division III student-athlete himself, Glenn Smith was the starting quarterback and captain of the Lycoming College football team. He garnered numerous awards and was an active student leader. Smith graduated from Lycoming College in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. From there, he earned a master’s degree in business administration from Liberty University in 2013. Glenn previously held roles at Lycoming College as an assistant athletics director, major gifts officer, and admissions counselor. Outside of his experience in higher education advancement, he has worked in strategic philanthropy and has served on boards and in leadership roles in several Williamsport-area organizations. My man.
“Coach Frank Girardi wrote ‘Be a Warrior’ as I was considering where I would attend college, and those words have resonated with me throughout all of my time at Lycoming,” mentioned Smith in a statement. “I am grateful to President Edmonds and the entire search committee for the opportunity to lead the Lycoming athletics department and serve my alma mater in this capacity. I am excited to work together with our team of coaches and staff to continue to advance the standard of excellence that is synonymous with Lycoming College. Our focus will be to provide the very best experience for Lycoming’s student-athletes so they will always be proud to say, ‘Once a Warrior, Always a Warrior.’”
Glenn and I are buds. We go back many moons. I remember him when he was in high school. I was coaching hoops at Montoursville. Glenn then went on the Lycoming. He was a phenomenal quarterback and leader. Smith did things the right way. Fantastic student. He was so involved on campus. My mom absolutely loved him. Glenn and I also share a love for music. My man has a great voice—another tenor. Glenn worked for my father in college admissions. His in-laws and I are friendly. Glenn and I chat about fishing, Little League, and parenting. Again. This is a fantastic hire.
Glenn and I have worked very closely. He was the brains behind our new on-campus golf facility. Glenn landed several huge gifts and has helped the Warriors make some expensive purchases. I had him on speed dial for the past few months. He always made the time to answer my questions. We raised $85K for our project. Glenn is a very passionate individual. He loves Lycoming College. Smith is full of ideas. He has a wealth of knowledge. Change is in the air, and we have a great leader. I am extremely happy for my friend.
I look forward to the next chapter with Glenn Smith. Bravo brother. Cheers.
