Jay Paterno Leaves Penn State to Officially End Paterno Era

For the first time since the middle of the 20th century, there will be no Paternos on the sidelines for the Penn State Nittany Lions in 2012.

According to a report from the Associated Press, Jay Paterno, son of legendary head coach Joe Paterno, is bowing out of Penn State's coaching staff.

Paterno has been on the Nittany Lions coaching staff since 1995 and has served as the team's quarterbacks coach since 1999. His decision to leave the program comes mere days after New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien was hired as Joe Paterno's successor.

JoePa, of course, was forced out as Penn State's head football coach in November in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Jay stayed on as the team's quarterbacks coach for its final four games, three of them losses.

The younger Paterno explained his decision to leave the program in a statement:

"

After talking with Coach Bill O’Brien we have reached the conclusion that I will not be a part of the Penn State football staff moving forward.

I will spend the next few weeks consulting with my wife and family to weigh various future options both inside and outside of football.

I thank the student-athletes that I’ve been privileged to coach over the past two decades at four schools. Hopefully my career has had an impact and helped you learn about life, and about the commitment and passion it takes to pursue personal excellence.

As for Penn Staters, I cannot even begin to express what your support has meant to me and my family over the past seventeen seasons and in particular the past two months. Through the tumult of the past several weeks, it has been your stalwart support combined with life lessons learned from Joe Paterno that has and continue to sustain us.

As a Penn Stater I am reminded of the words “Sing Our Love and Loyalty” from the Alma Mater. I wish the program the best of luck in carrying on the academic and athletic excellence that have been a hallmark of this university for decades.

"

Joe Paterno first joined Penn State's coaching staff in 1950, taking over as the Nittany Lions' head coach in 1966. He proceeded to rack up an FBS-record 409 wins and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

It suffices to say that O'Brien has large shoes to fill, but his job is twofold. In addition to carrying on Penn State's winning tradition on the field, he'll also have to do his part in terms of regaining some of the university's integrity.

Evidently, he is confident that he can do both without Jay Paterno.