George Paterno, 73; Penn State Football Analyst, Coach’s Brother
George Paterno, 73, a longtime Penn State football broadcaster and brother of coach Joe Paterno, died Tuesday at a hospital in State College, Pa., of complications from a heart attack. He was 73.
Paterno spent 24 years broadcasting Penn State football games as an analyst on radio and television from 1976 through the 1999 season.
He was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., and began his football career alongside his brother at Brooklyn Prep. He played college football with his brother at Brown University, where he led the team in rushing in 1949 with 480 yards on 88 carries.
After spending time in the Marine Corps and the New York Police Department and in two stints as a high school assistant coach, Paterno took over as the coach of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., in 1965.
He led the team to a 46-32-3 record in 1965-68 and 1971-75. He spent 1969-70 as a defensive coordinator at Michigan State.
Paterno retired from coaching after the 1975 season.
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