On Friday, Scott Paterno revealed that he has lung cancer. The embattled former Penn State football coach is said to have a treatable form of the disease ( Joe Paterno lung cancer).
In a statement Scott Paterno said his father was diagnosed with a treatable form of lung cancer during a follow-up visit for a bronchial illness last week.
It continues, “He is currently undergoing treatment and his doctors are optimistic that he will make a full recovery. As everyone can appreciate, this is a deeply personal matter for my parents, and we simply ask that his privacy be respected as he proceeds with treatment.”
Joe Paterno was fired amid the scandal surrounding his onetime defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky, who’s been accused of raping children while at Penn State.
Joe Paterno (full name: Joseph Vincent Paterno) was born December 21, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York. Upon graduation from Brown University in 1950, his former coach, Charles (“Rip”) Engle, became head coach at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State). After 16 years as Engle's assistant, Joe Paterno succeeded him in 1966. Joe Paterno leads Penn State to consecutive undefeated seasons in 1968 and 1969 and another undefeated season in 1973.
American collegiate gridiron football coach who, as head coach at Pennsylvania State University (1966–), was one of the most successful coaches in the history of the sport.
