2026 ALUMNI TRUSTEE ELECTION CENTRAL:
VOTING BEGINS 4/20: VOTE FOR JAY PATERNO

ELECTION STATEMENT:

ALL IN FOR PENN STATE'S FUTURE

The challenges facing higher education are well documented; among them, falling enrollment, accessibility, affordability, a runaway college sports system and politicization of curriculum and research. Our times demand a steady hand of rock-solid core values to tower over rapidly shifting sands.

 

What must Penn State stand for? We are committed to our Land Grant mission of service to the Commonwealth and beyond. We are unflinchingly tough “solution people” with a tradition of problem solving. We must welcome all, united as defenders of common cause: affordability, accessibility, academic excellence, academic freedom, free speech, fiscal sustainability, mental health and integrity.

 

Our times require watch dogs not lap dogs. As your Trustee, my votes speak for themselves. I’ve been an independent voice for our ideals, raising hard questions about complex problems. I’m a national voice helping forge the future for college sports. That advocacy benefits Penn State.

 

Amid the din of distraction, our university must harness innovation to restore reputational academic excellence. Above all, we must understand the responsibility that you grant us. Penn State was here before us, and we must ensure a foundation for excellence lasting long after we’re gone.

 

I ask for your vote to continue a commitment to defend and serve the interests of our university and the Penn State family of students, alumni, faculty, staff, friends and benefactors. Leadership requires people to relish adversity’s call, welcoming it as opportunity. With your vote, we’ll forge destiny’s path towards renewed excellence.

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TRUSTEE BIOGRAPHY

Jay Paterno is currently a member of Penn State’s Board of Trustees, a position he’s held since being elected in 2017.

 

His career includes coaching football at four different universities (Virginia, UConn, JMU and Penn State). During his career he coached two Big Ten MVPs and was named the Big Ten's top Quarterbacks Coach by Rivals.com & one of the nation's top coordinators by ESPN.com.

 

After coaching he’s done consulting work in philanthropy, athletics, media, publishing, private equity and writing through his company Blue Line 409 LLC. He was one of the nation’s first college Name, Image and Likeness consultants and co-founded Penn State’s first NIL collective which signed contracts with every scholarship football player and athletes from all 31 of Penn State’s sports teams. Currently, he’s a nationally respected voice in the fast-changing college sports landscape advocating for a sustainable future for all college sports. He has authored the best-selling book “Paterno Legacy,” and two novels “Hot Seat” and “Blitzed!”. He continues to write columns for national publications and co-created the TV show “Nittany Game Week” taking Penn State sports into 8 states.

 

He’s served on philanthropic boards, was part of successful US Presidential Campaigns and attended the White House Community Leaders Forum. Nationally he’s been recognized for success as a coach, as one of the top 100 sports tweeters in the world and as a speaker by American Rhetoric (Top American Speeches of the Century). In a personal capacity, he was involved in national crisis management through a lengthy international media story. In 2022 he was executive producer for ABC’s “THON: 50 Years for the Kids” which won its television prime-time slot in Philadelphia and New York City.

 

Jay lives in State College, Pennsylvania He and his wife of 33 years are the proud parents of five.