Joe Paterno Timeline

Dec. 21, 1926: Joseph Vincent Paterno is born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Angelo and Florence Paterno.

1940: Graduated from St. Edmonds Grammar School.

1944: Graduated from Brooklyn Prep.

1944-45: Served one year in the Army.

1945: Accepted an athletic scholarship to Brown University.

1949: Senior brothers Joe and George Paterno lead Brown to an 8-1 season.

1950: Paterno graduates and follows Brown head coach Rip Engle to Penn State as his assistant.

Oct. 1, 1955: Misses game vs. Army due to the death of his father.

1962: He marries Suzanne Pohland, Penn State Class of 1962.

Feb. 19, 1966: Paterno is named 14th head coach at Penn State following Engle's retirement.

Sept. 17, 1966: Defeats Maryland, 15-7, in his first game as head coach.

Jan. 1, 1969: Nittany Lions defeat Kansas, 15-14, in the Orange Bowl to record their first unbeaten season.

1969: Paterno hires Jerry Sandusky to be Penn State's defensive line coach.

Jan. 1, 1970: Penn State tops Missouri, 10-3, in the Orange Bowl for their second consecutive 11-0 season.

1973: Shortly after a 14-0 loss to Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31, 1972, Paterno agrees to become coach and general manager of the New England Patriots, but backs out shortly thereafter.

Dec. 4, 1973: Penn State running back John Cappelletti is named Heisman Trophy winner.

Jan. 1, 1974: Defeats LSU, 16-9, in Orange Bowl to complete third unbeaten season.

Nov. 6, 1976: Penn State tops North Carolina State, 41-20, Paterno's 100th victory.

Jan. 1, 1983: Penn State defeats top-ranked Georgia, 27-23, in the Sugar Bowl to claim its first national championship.

1984: Joe and Sue Paterno establish the Paterno Libraries Endowment with gifts totaling $120,000.

Jan. 1, 1986: No. 1 Penn State is beaten by Oklahoma, 25-10, in the Orange Bowl.

Dec. 22, 1986: Sports Illustrated names Paterno its Sportsman of the Year following Penn State's 11-0 regular season.

Jan. 2, 1987: The Nittany Lions upset Miami, 14-10, in the Fiesta Bowl to give Penn State its second national title.

Sept. 5, 1987: Penn State thumps Bowling Green, 45-17, for Paterno's 200th win.

Nov. 17, 1990: Penn State records last-second, 24-21 win at top-ranked Notre Dame.

Sept. 4, 1993: Nittany Lions defeat Minnesoa, 38-20, in its first game as a member of the Big Ten Conference.

1994: Penn State finishes 12-0 following a 38-20 win over Oregon in the Rose Bowl, but ends up second in the final rankings to Nebraska.

1995: Paterno hires son Jay as assistant coach.