Key Takeaways
- Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State assistant football coach convicted of child se*ual abuse in 2012, is still alive at age 80 and remains incarcerated at Laurel Highlands state prison as of January 2025.
- Despite receiving numerous accolades during his coaching career and founding The Second Mile charity, Sandusky was convicted on 45 counts of se*ual abuse of young boys and sentenced to 30-60 years in prison.
- His latest appeal was denied by a Pennsylvania appellate court in September 2024, while Penn State University has paid over $100 million in settlements to his victims in the aftermath of the scandal that led to Joe Paterno’s firing and severe NCAA sanctions.
Yes, Gerald Arthur Sandusky, widely known as Jerry Sandusky, is still alive as of January 2025.
Born on January 26, 1944, Sandusky is an infamous figure in American history, remembered not for his achievements in college football coaching but for the scandal that destroyed his legacy.
NEW: Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky arrived at a Pennsylvania courthouse where he was resentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison for sexually abusing children, the same sentence he received after his conviction in 2012. https://t.co/WbyhJHWHFE pic.twitter.com/FYaLKdFran
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) November 22, 2019
The Rise And Fall Of Jerry Sandusky
Sandusky’s football career spanned three decades, during which he served as an assistant coach at Pennsylvania State University under the legendary Joe Paterno.
Known for his defensive strategies, Sandusky was celebrated in the football world, receiving the prestigious “Assistant Coach of the Year” award twice.
Jerry Sandusky's son Jeffrey facing up to 8 years in prison for child sex abuse, per @WJACTV https://t.co/4uY25EefZI pic.twitter.com/is8KJjLs83
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 16, 2017
In 1977, Sandusky founded The Second Mile, a charity intended to support underprivileged youth.
It was through this organization that he met and groomed many of his victims, actions that would come to light decades later.
The Scandal That Shook The Nation
In 2011, following a grand jury investigation, Sandusky was charged with 52 counts of se*ual abuse of young boys over a 15-year period.
His trial in 2012 resulted in convictions on 45 of the charges. Sandusky received a sentence of 30 to 60 years in prison—a term widely viewed as a life sentence given his age at the time of sentencing.
Son of convicted sex abuser and former Penn St. asst. coach Jerry Sandusky arrested on child sexual abuse charges. https://t.co/FAuZfTprjb pic.twitter.com/hhVMQIsW8v
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) February 13, 2017
The fallout was catastrophic, extending beyond Sandusky to Penn State itself.
Joe Paterno was fired, and the university faced NCAA sanctions, tarnishing its reputation. Penn State has since paid over $100 million in settlements to Sandusky’s victims.
Ongoing Legal Battles
Sandusky has persistently maintained his innocence and sought new trials over the years.
In September 2024, his latest appeal was denied by a Pennsylvania appellate court.
Ex-Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky maintains innocence years after child sex abuse conviction
— 🛑 BREAKING NEWS 🛑📢🔔⚠💥❗💬 (@NotAnotherTip) June 18, 2024
Disgraced former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky spoke out in a story published Tuesday and maintained his innocence years after he was convi… https://t.co/ATDVkpMFU1 pic.twitter.com/yQTWMvCUpt
Despite presenting what his defense claimed was new evidence, the court ruled that it was insufficient to overturn his convictions.
Sandusky remains incarcerated at the Laurel Highlands state prison, serving his lengthy sentence.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Jerry Sandusky played defensive end for the Penn State Nittany Lions from 1963-1965, under the coaching of Rip Engle.
- He excelled academically at Penn State, graduating top of his class with a health science degree in 1966, followed by earning a physical education degree in 1970.
- The same year he earned his first degree, Sandusky wed Dorothy “Dottie” Gross, and the couple went on to adopt six children and also took in foster children.
