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February 19, 1966

44 years ago today Joe Paterno was named Penn State's 14^th head football coach in history replacing his retiring mentor Rip Engle. The Brooklyn-born Paterno forsake law school after graduating from Brown University to become an assistant under Engle. JoePa held that position for 16 years in which the Nittany Lions never once finished with a losing season For the most part the head coaching job search and hire were a foregone conclusion as Paterno recalls the interview process, "The guy who was the athletic director, Ernie McCoy, the dean of the college of phys ed, called me into his office. He said, 'Do you want the job?' I said, 'Yeah.' He said, 'Okay.' We shook hands and he said, 'You get 20,000 bucks a year.'"

Paterno said he regarded his new assignment "as the best coaching job in the country." He elaborated, "We are all part of a great football tradition. A winning tradition started 27 years ago by Coach Bob Higgins and continued under Engle. We have a great responsibility to carry on this legacy of success...I can't thank Rip enough for what he has done for me personally and for Penn State. It will be an impossible task to replace his inspiration and leadership. However, if hard work and dedication can succeed, then I'm certain our staff will develop good and exciting teams."

In his illustrious career, Paterno has compiled a record-setting 394 career victories, 2 National Championships, 5 undefeated seasons, and 24 bowl victories during his time in Happy Valley.

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