After five years of legal wrangling, the secret of Joe Paterno’s salary has been revealed. Penn State’s long, longtime football coach earns $512,664 in salary this year, according to the state’s pension board.
The Patriot-News, a Harrisburg newspaper, filed the lawsuit that forced the disclosure after a ruling last week by the state’s Supreme Court.
While the reported pay does not contain other forms of compensation received by most coaches, like money from TV and apparel endorsements, it still seems low compared with the earnings of Mr. Paterno’s junior peers. A USA Today survey last year found seven football coaches in Penn State’s conference, the Big Ten, whose annual salaries turn out to be higher than his. Kirk Ferentz, for example, makes $2.84-million at the University of Iowa.
At least Mr. Paterno earns more than he did when he became head coach 41 years ago, at an annual salary of $20,000. —Paul Fain
