Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, the all-time Division I leader in wins, and who resigned amid the university’s child molestation scandal just months ago, is reportedly near death due to complications from lung cancer. On Saturday, as friends and family were being summoned to State College, Pa., Hospital, a family spokesman said the coach had taken a turn for the worse. Penn State student website Onward State reported that PSU team members were notified of Paterno’s passing via email. However, a Paterno family spokesperson denied the report and his son tweeted that his father “continues to fight.” Known for his “success with honor” motto, thick glasses, rolled-up pants and black cleats, Paterno left an indelible mark on Penn State and college football in general. Joe, 85, has five children with wife Sue and 17 grandchidlren. A Brooklyn native and Brown University graduate, Paterno began coaching the Nittany Lions in 1966 and his tenure stretched to October of this year. In his 46 years as head coach, Paterno holds the all-time Division I record for football coaching wins with a 409-136-3 record and two national titles. After a highly celebrated career and iconic status, Paterno’s career as coach ended as a result of a scandal involving former assistant Jerry Sandusky . Sandusky allegedly sexually assaulted young boys, including a 10-year-old. Paterno was fired over his handling (or lack of handling) of the scandal. Announcing his retirement, he said, “This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.” “I’m sick about it. I didn’t know exactly how to handle it, and I was afraid to do something that might jeopardize what the university procedure was.” “So I backed away and turned it over to some other people, people I thought would have a little more expertise than I did. It didn’t work out that way.” In November, he was diagnosed with lung cancer and his health rapidly deteriorated. Though the scandal sullied Paterno’s image in his final days, the coach enjoyed decades of success and reverence on the campus he and his wife helped build. That’s not likely to change anytime soon.
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Joe Paterno Near Death, Reports Say
