Joe Paterno

Date of Birth: December 21, 1926

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: January 22, 2012

Biography

Joseph Vincent Paterno, widely known as Joe Paterno, was an American college football coach who is best remembered for his tenure with the Penn State Nittany Lions. Born on December 21, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York, Paterno attended Brown University where he played quarterback and cornerback. After graduating in 1950, he joined Penn State as an assistant coach in 1950, eventually becoming the head coach in 1966. Over his 46-year career, he became an iconic figure in college football, amassing 409 victories, the most by any coach in major college football history at the time of his retirement. Paterno was known for his “Grand Experiment” philosophy, which emphasized the balance between athletics and academics. Under his leadership, Penn State won two national championships (1982, 1986) and appeared in 37 bowl games. His tenure, however, ended in controversy in 2011 due to the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal, leading to his dismissal. Paterno passed away on January 22, 2012, due to complications from lung cancer.

5 Interesting Facts about Joe Paterno

1. Joe Paterno is the only coach in NCAA history to have won each of the four major bowls—Rose, Orange, Fiesta, and Sugar—multiple times.

2. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

3. Paterno donated over $4 million to Penn State, funding scholarships, faculty positions, and the Paterno Library.

4. He was known for his distinctive thick glasses and rolled-up pants on the sidelines.

5. Paterno coached five undefeated teams in his career.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Joe Paterno

1. “Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won’t taste good.”

2. “Believe deep down in your heart that you’re destined to do great things.”

3. “You have to perform at a consistently higher level than others. That’s the mark of a true professional.”

4. “The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital.”

5. “Losing a game is heartbreaking. Losing your sense of excellence or worth is a tragedy.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth Joe Paterno achieved was estimated to be around $10 million.

Children

Joe Paterno had five children with his wife, Suzanne Pohland Paterno: Diana, Mary Kay, David, Jay, and Scott. His son Jay Paterno also became a football coach and served as an assistant coach at Penn State.