Fansided

Best college football coach in history from each state

By Nathaniel Reeves

TUSCALOOSA, AL - CIRCA 1958-1982: Paul Bryant, head coach of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team observes the play during a game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Alabama) (Photo by University of Alabama/Collegiate Images/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - CIRCA 1958-1982: Paul Bryant, head coach of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team observes the play during a game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Alabama) (Photo by University of Alabama/Collegiate Images/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: Head coach Joe Paterno of the Penn State Nittany Lions addresses the media after their defeat against the USC Trojans at the 95th Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi on January 1, 2009 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: Head coach Joe Paterno of the Penn State Nittany Lions addresses the media after their defeat against the USC Trojans at the 95th Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi on January 1, 2009 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Pennsylvania: Joe Paterno

Paterno’s legacy has deservedly been tarnished for his role in covering up Penn State’s horrific child sex abuse scandal but is still clearly the leader in the Keystone State for on-the-field accomplishments.

A native of Brooklyn, Paterno attended Brown to play quarterback from 1946-1949 and passed up an opportunity to attend law school in favor of coaching. Penn State hired Paterno as an assistant in 1950 and promoted him to head coach 16 years later when Rip Engle retired.

The Nittany Lions enjoyed a successful run under Engle, but Paterno quickly took the program to new heights. Penn State was a perfect 11-0 in both 1968 and 1969, finishing a program-best second in the AP Poll with a pair of Orange Bowl wins in each season.

While the Nittany Lions won 10 or more games eight different times over the next 11 seasons, Paterno didn’t break through with a national title until 1982, fueled by a Sugar Bowl win over No. 1 Georgia. Four years later, Penn State earned its second championship by stunning heavily favored Miami, and Paterno kept the program in contention throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

Paterno finished his career with an FBS-record 409 wins, although 111 of those were later vacated and his statue on campus has since been removed for his role in former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky’s sex abuse scandal. The NCAA eased initial sanctions on Penn State, and current head coach James Franklin appears poised to return the program to national prominence following an appearance in the Rose Bowl last year.

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