Joe Paterno

Joe Paterno was an American college football coach who served as the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 seasons. He is the most victorious coach in the history of NCAA FBS and led his program to two national championships. His career, which made him an iconic figure in college football, was permanently marred by his involvement in the Penn State child sex abuse scandal.

Early Life and Education

Joseph Vincent Paterno was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City to parents of Italian descent. He attended Brooklyn Preparatory School, where he excelled academically and athletically before enrolling at Brown University. At Brown, Paterno played quarterback and cornerback for the Brown Bears under coach Rip Engle. He graduated in 1950 with a degree in English literature and initially planned to attend law school.

Coaching Career

In 1950, Paterno followed Rip Engle to Penn State University to become an assistant coach. He succeeded Engle as head coach in 1966 and quickly built a reputation for success, dubbed "Linebacker U" for his defensive prowess. His teams won national championships in 1982 and 1986, and he captured five AFCA Coach of the Year awards. Paterno's teams were known for their plain uniforms, academic achievement, and consistent success in bowls like the Orange Bowl and Fiesta Bowl. He became the all-time leader in wins among NCAA major-college coaches in 2011, a record later surpassed by John Gagliardi and Eddie Robinson.

Penn State Child Sex Abuse Scandal

In November 2011, former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was indicted on multiple counts of child sexual abuse. A grand jury investigation found that in 2001, a graduate assistant reported witnessing Sandusky assaulting a child in the Lasch Building showers to Paterno, who then informed university administrators, including Athletic Director Tim Curley and Senior VP Gary Schultz. Paterno was criticized for not alerting law enforcement. The subsequent Freeh Report, commissioned by the Penn State Board of Trustees, concluded that Paterno and other leaders failed to protect children. He was fired by the Penn State Board of Trustees in November 2011.

Legacy and Death

Paterno's legacy is profoundly complex, split between his on-field achievements and his role in the scandal. His statue outside Beaver Stadium was removed in 2012, and the NCAA vacated 111 of his wins, though these were later restored. He died of complications from lung cancer at the Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College in January 2012. Posthumously, debates continue about his culpability, memorialized in works like the ESPN film *The Last Days of Joe Paterno* and discussions within the College Football Hall of Fame.

Personal Life

Paterno married Sue Pohland, a former Penn State librarian and Queen's College graduate, in 1962. They had five children: Diana, Mary Kay, David, Jay, and Scott, several of whom attended Penn State. He was known for his philanthropy, donating millions to the university, which funded the Paterno Library and supported the College of Medicine. An avid reader, he was a member of the American Philosophical Society and maintained a deep interest in classical literature and history.

Category:American football coaches Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football coaches Category:1926 births Category:2012 deaths