PITTSBURGH (AP) — Penn State trustees say Joe Paterno was removed as football coach in November and not allowed to retire after the season because of “extraordinary circumstances.”
A statement released Thursday by trustees says that Paterno remains a tenured faculty member and that details of his retirement were being worked out.
The statement comes amid mounting criticism on trustees and President Rodney Erickson for how the university handled the immediate aftermath of child sex abuse charges against retired defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.
Paterno was fired Nov. 9. That’s four days after Sandusky was charged.
Some alumni, including those attending a town hall meeting Wednesday in Pittsburgh, have called for new leadership among the trustees. Another meeting is set for Thursday night near Philadelphia.
