STATE COLLEGE, Pa., July 28, 2004 - Penn State's Joe Paterno has been selected the nation's best college football coach of the past 25 years by an ESPN25 expert panel. Paterno finished No. 8 overall in the listing of college and professional coaches from all sports over the past 25 years.

ESPN is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

Paterno also was the top-rated college football coach of the past 25 years as ranked by ESPN.com Sports Nation users. The legendary coach finished No. 9 in the overall coaches ranking among fans.

Former Grambling football coach Eddie Robinson was rated No. 9 overall by the ESPN25 panel. Among the other college football coaches who made the ESPN25 list are: Jimmy Johnson (No. 15), Tom Osborne (17), Bobby Bowden (21) and Steve Spurrier (23).

Entering his 39th season as head coach of the Nittany Lions, Paterno owns a 339-103-3 (75.5) career record. In his 55th year on the Penn State staff, Paterno is second in all-time victories among major college coaches and fourth in wins across all four NCAA divisions. He has led Penn State to two national championships (1982, '86), five unbeaten and untied seasons (1968, '69, '73, '86, '94) and is the all-time leader in bowl appearances (31) and victories (20-10-1 mark).

Paterno also has helped produce more than 250 NFL players, 69 first team All-Americans, 30 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, 14 National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Scholar Athletes and 18 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners during his illustrious career.

The Nittany Lions return 32 letterwinners and 15 starters for the upcoming season, which begins Sept. 4 against Akron in Beaver Stadium at 3:30 p.m.

 ESPN 25 - Top 25 Coaches of the Past 25 Years 1. Dean Smith 2. Scotty Bowman 3. Mike Krzyzewski 4. Phil Jackson 5. Pat Summitt 6. Bill Walsh 7. Don Shula 8. Joe Paterno 9. Eddie Robinson 10. Pat Riley