Penn State football coach Joe Paterno is one of a kind. In a profession where job security is fleeting, he's been the Nittany Lions head coach for an amazing 41 years, and at age 80 doesn't appear to be slowing down -- or considering retirement.

What makes Paterno so special is what he's accomplished both on and off the field. His Penn State teams have won two national championships and an amazing 363 games, the second most of any Division I head coach in history. He has also won a record 22 bowl games.

His teams on-field success, though, is just part of what makes Paterno unique. He believes in the term student athlete, and expects his players to go to class -- they usually sit in the first few rows -- and to graduate. In fact, over the past five years, Penn State's football team's graduation rate, as measured by the NCAA, was the highest in the nation three times. He knows full well that few of his players will reach the NFL, and that his main job is to prepare his players for life.

He also does things the right way. In an age when most top football programs have been under NCAA probation or received penalties for things such as recruiting violations, paying players, having undue influence from boosters and other various misdeeds, Penn State has not had any such problems during Paterno's tenure.

He has raised -- and donated -- millions of dollars for the Penn State library, and has used his influence after winning his first national title to challenge the Penn State Board of Trustees to make the university No. 1 in academics as well as athletics. Can you imagine other coaches doing this?

During my five years at Penn State in the mid-1980s I got to see Paterno up close while covering the team. Much like with his team, Paterno expected reporters to be prepared, be on time, work hard and to represent the university well, lessons that I've carried with me since that time.

The next time you're watching a Penn State football game with your kids, let them know about the person referred to as JoePa by fans and media alike. His off-field accomplishments should be shared as an example of the positive role a coach can have on his players, the university and the sport. We're not likely to see anyone of his kind again.