State coach Joe Paterno was seriously ill the previous

A spokesman for the health of the family in Pennsylvania, former football coach Joe Paterno, who was ousted from office last November following a sexual abuse scandal in the child assistant coach, and his condition seriously deteriorated, the Saturday.

"In recent days have seen Joe Paterno other health complications. Now doctors characterized her position seriously," he said in a statement.

The family said Paterno will have no further comment on the situation and asked to respect their privacy "during this difficult time."

Paterno, 85, revealed on November 18, which can be treated with lung cancer. I was in and out of hospital for treatment since then, with radiation and chemotherapy, and after his fall at his home in December and broke his hip.

The winningest coach in college football history major, and coach Paterno at Penn State for 46 years. Trustees expelled him for not telling the police what happened to him about the alleged sexual assault.

Paterno has long been assistant Jerry is facing 52 counts of sexual abuse Sandusky children over 15 years, including some incidents in the soccer complex on campus. Disclosure of the charges against Sandusky shocked the university and led to one of the biggest scandals in the history of college sports.

Ben saw the assistant leave the state before the grand jury, said that in the year 2002 witnessed the assault Paterno Sandusky boy in the shower in the construction of football. Paterno said he passed the information to the head, then Sports Director Tim Curley. But he said not a cop, and the abuse continued for years, prosecutors said.

Trustees of the University launched the Paterno on November 9 with four games left in the current football season. It provoked protests to overthrow by students who felt unfairly treated, and some outrage among the graduates. Rose two senior administration official University office this week.

He was president Graham Spanier University with Paterno and Curley, the former finance officer in the face of sports management costs of lying to a grand jury about the alleged assault.

Sandusky under house arrest awaiting trial on charges of assault. , Has pleaded not guilty.