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What was Joe Paterno's salary at Penn State?

Published in College Football Coach Salary 2 mins read

Joe Paterno's base salary as the head football coach at Penn State was approximately $500,000. This figure became publicly known following an open records request, revealing a sum that was previously a closely guarded secret within college football.

Details of Joe Paterno's Base Salary

The specific details regarding Paterno's compensation, particularly his base salary, were once a subject of much speculation. However, a public records request unveiled his foundational pay.

Compensation Type Amount (Approximate) Notes
Base Salary $500,000 Made public via open records request

How Paterno's Salary Was Revealed

For many years, Joe Paterno's exact salary at Penn State remained undisclosed to the public. It was considered one of college football's most closely-guarded financial secrets. The information eventually came to light as part of an open records request. This request, initiated by The Patriot News of Harrisburg, sought state retirement data, which consequently revealed Paterno's base salary to be around $500,000. At the time of this disclosure, he was noted as Penn State's highest-paid employee.

Contract Context

Joe Paterno signed a three-year contract extension in December prior to the salary disclosure becoming widely publicized. This extension ensured his continued leadership of the Penn State Nittany Lions football program.

For additional information on the specifics of Joe Paterno's salary disclosure, you can refer to reports such as this one from ESPN regarding his compensation.