Penn St. boss: Don't fret over Joe Pa

Published Apr. 20, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Just because Penn State coach Joe Paterno's contract expires after this season doesn't mean he won't return in 2012 -- or beyond.

University President Graham Spanier said Tuesday neither he nor Paterno or athletic director Tim Curley think about Paterno's work in terms of contracts. Spanier told The Associated Press that Paterno's status has long been considered on a year-to-year basis, and that there was no specific agreement about a transition.

Paterno turns 85 in December. Major college football's winningest coach has given no indication he plans to retire after the three-year extension agreed to in 2008 expires.

Spanier has been at Penn State for 16 years. He said Paterno has told him since he arrived it wouldn't be long before the coach retired.