-->

• Joe Paterno is the head coach of Penn State University's Nittany Lions Football team, holding the position since 1966. Paterno is one of three active football coaches that have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

  Records released on May 29, 2009 revealed that Paterno is the highest-paid employee at Penn State, making more than $1.03 million from the school alone in 2008.CBSSports.com: Penn State Records Show JoePa a Millionaire

• Fast Facts

  1. Full name: Joseph Vincent Paterno
  2. Born: December 21, 1926
  3. Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York
  4. Nickname: JoePa
  5. Attended Brown University and planned to be an attorney
  6. Won more football games against other NCAA Division I-FBS than any other coach in history
  7. Advocate for college football playoff system

• Extension

  On December 16, 2008, news agencies reported that Penn State University and Paterno agreed on a three-year contract extension. The deal makes Paterno head coach through the 2011 season. Paterno turned 82 years old on December 21, 2008.

• Coaching Career

  Paterno began coaching after graduating from Brown University, joining Penn State as an assistant coach. Paterno assumed the head coaching position in 1966 and has remained the coach of the Nittany Lions. Paterno trails only Bobby Bowden for most victories as a Division-I football coach.

  In 2008, at the age of 81, Paterno led the Nittany Lions to the Big Ten title and a trip to the Rose Bowl. Despite undergoing a hip replacement surgery in November of 2008, Paterno announced that he would"run out of that tunnel" with the team in 2009.ESPN.com: Paterno Says He'll 'Run Out of That Tunnel Next Year'...

• Career Highlights

  • 1981: Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year
  • 1982: NCAA Championship
  • 1986: NCAA Championship
  • 1986: SI Sportsman of the Year
  • 1994: Conference Championships
  • 2005: Conference Championships
  • 2005: Walter Camp Coach of the Year
  • 2005: AP Coach of the Year
  • 2005: Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year
  • 2007: Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Penn State Nittany Lions Football | Big Ten Football | Lou Holtz | Orange Bowl | Fiesta Bowl

Categories

• View History
• Discuss on the Message Board
• Embed this Page
• Share this page