Penn State sanctions make Eddie Robinson winningest coach

Eddie Robinson is back on top through unexpected circumstances.

In one of the harshest penalties ever levied against a school, National Collegiate Association of Athletics (NCAA) President Mark Emmert, announced last month that Penn State would face a $60 million fine, a four-year post-season ban, a five-year probation period, the loss of 10 initial scholarships in year one and 20 overall scholarships per year over the following four years and the vacating of all wins from 1998 to 2011.

Current members of the football team are allowed to transfer without penalty or limitation.

With 111 of Penn State’s Joe Paterno’s victories gone, former Grambling State University Head Coach Eddie Robinson reclaims his position as the coach in Division I college football history with the most victories.

The late Paterno now has 298 career victories. Robinson takes back his spot with 408.

Joe Gagliardi, of Saint John’s in Minnesota (a Division III school), has the most wins of any college football coach overall with 484. Former Florida State Football Coach, Bobby Bowden has the most wins of any Football Bowl Subdivision Program with 377.

Robinson coached at Grambling State for six decades until his retirement in 1997. With an overall record of 408-165-15, his teams weren’t only excellent, the school’s program was a hotbed of young talent that would eventually find its way into the National Football League, including Super Bowl XXII MVP Doug Williams.

Robinson passed away in 2007 at the age of 88 after a decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

The Penn State football program was penalized as a result of its role in the sex abuse scandal involving former coach Jerry Sandusky.