Paterno Negotiated Lucrative Contract Amid Sandusky Probe

The late Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno negotiated a lucrative final contract with the university during the period when he and other Penn State officials were testifying in a grand-jury investigation about sexual abuse of minors by Mr. Paterno’s longtime assistant coach, says The New York Times.

The deal, ultimately worth about $5.5-million, hinged on Mr. Paterno’s agreement to retire after the 2011 football season, a condition not made public at the time. He was fired by the school’s board of trustees before the season’s end, amid revelations about his handling of the molestation accusations against former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, who was convicted last month on child sexual abuse charges.

University records show Mr. Paterno, who passed away last January, initiated talks about amending his contract in January 2011, the month he learned prosecutors were investigating Mr. Sandusky.

According to the Times, some trustees questioned whether the university should follow through on the deal in the wake of the abuse scandal and Mr. Paterno’s firing, but the board ultimately voter to honor all terms sought by the late coach’s family.

A independent report on the Sandusky affair by former FBI director Louis Freeh, made public last week, contends Penn State and Mr. Paterno protected Mr. Sandusky for years to preserve the reputation of the football program and its revered coach.