Paterno's son, other former coach sue PSU
STATE COLLEGE — A son of late Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has sued the university over his dismissal from its coaching staff two years ago, saying he has been unfairly linked to the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal.
Former assistant coach Jay Paterno and another former assistant, Bill Kenney, filed a federal lawsuit in Philadelphia seeking more than $1 million and a statement from the university saying they did nothing wrong related to Sandusky, who was convicted of abusing several boys.
Paterno and Kenney said in the lawsuit they and other coaches at Penn State were let go in early 2012 “at the height of the Sandusky scandal’s dark shroud and without any attempt whatsoever by Penn State to preserve the reputations of these guiltless individuals.”
Joe Paterno was fired as the Nittany Lions’ coach before the end of the 2011 season, and his assistants took over for the last few games. Bill O’Brien, who was hired as coach in January 2012, replaced much of Paterno’s staff.
In response to the claims in the lawsuit, Penn State spokesman Lisa Powers said it’s common practice for incoming head coaches to pick their own assistants.
