Paterno, Joe (1926-2012), was an American college football coach. Paterno coached at Pennsylvania State University his entire career. His Penn State teams were consensus national champions in 1982 and 1986. Five of his teams were undefeated. Paterno coached many all-American players who became stars in professional football. They include John Cappelletti, Jack Ham, Franco Harris, Lydell Mitchell, Lenny Moore, and Curt Warner.
Penn State fired Paterno late in the 2011 season. He was discharged while the school faced a child sexual abuse scandal involving a former assistant football coach. Paterno was not accused of breaking any laws but was criticized for not being more active in investigating and exposing the abuse. Paterno ended his coaching career with 409 victories, 136 losses, and 3 ties, the most by any Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS, previously called Division I-A) coach. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) FBS is the most competitive grouping of schools playing college football. In 2012, the NCAA, as a result of the sex abuse scandal, ruled that all Penn State football victories from 1998 through 2011 were canceled. That decision reduced Paterno’s career victory total by 111 games. In 2015, the NCAA restored the 111 victories to Paterno’s record, again making him the winningest coach in FBS history.
Joseph Vincent Paterno was born on Dec. 21, 1926, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. He was a star quarterback at Brown University, graduating in 1950. Paterno became an assistant coach at Penn State in 1950 and took over as head coach beginning with the 1966 season. In 2007, Paterno coached at Penn State for the 42nd year, breaking the record of 41 years for head coaching at one school previously held by Amos Alonzo Stagg at the University of Chicago. That same year, Paterno was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. Paterno died on Jan. 22, 2012.
