Paterno, Joseph V.
Football
b. Dec. 21, 1926, Brooklyn, NY
Paterno played quarterback for "Rip" Engle at Brown University, guiding the team to a 15-3 record over the 1948 and 1949 seasons, and he became an assistant coach to Engle at Pennsylvania State University after graduating in 1950.
When Engle retired after the 1965 season, Paterno took over as head coach. Short, slight, and bespectacled, he looks much more like a professor than a coach, and often acts more like a professor, demanding academic achievement as well as football ability from his players. More than ninety percent of his recruits graduate within five years of their entrance.
He has also put together an enviable record as a coach. Penn State was consensus national champion in 1982, 1983, 1986, and 1987; went undefeated in 1968, 1969, 1973, and 1986; and has won 14 bowl games while losing 8 and tying 1 during Paterno's tenure.
He was consensus coach of the year in 1978 and 1982, the American Football Coaches Association choice in 1968, and the Football Writers Association of America choice in 1986.
Through the 1992 season, Paterno had a 247-67-3 record in his 27 years at Penn State. His victory total is fourth all-time among NCAA Division I coaches and his .784 winning percentage is fourteenth best.
Paterno's emphasis has generally been on a strong running game and a powerful defense. He's especially known for producing outstanding running backs such as John Cappelletti, Franco Harris, Lydell Mitchell, and Curt Warner, and quick, intelligent linebackers such as Jack Ham and Shane Conley.
Three professional teams tried but failed to lure Paterno away from Penn State. In 1969, the Pittsburgh Steelers offered him a long-term contract for $50,000 a year. The Green Bay Packers wanted to hire him as general manager and coach two years later. The most tempting offer came from the New England Patriots in 1973. Paterno agreed verbally to a six-year, $1.3 million contract, but the following day he decided to turn it down.
