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Head coach Joe Paterno of the Penn State Nittany Lions walks on the sideline before the start of their game against the Syracuse Orangemen at Beaver Stadium Sept. 12, 2009 in State College, Penn.

Joe Paterno, the legendary former Penn State football coach whose sterling record was tarnished by a child sex abuse scandal, died Sunday of lung cancer.

Paterno, 85, was fired in November amid allegations that an assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, had sexually abused boys and that school officials tried to cover it up, as Reuters reported.

The abuse scandal did not stop an outpouring of grief on campus in response to the news of Paterno's death. Throngs of Penn State students, many weeping, gathered in front of a statue of Paterno to pay tribute to the winningest coach in college football, CNN reported.

In a statement, Paterno's family said, "He died as he lived. He fought hard until the end, stayed positive, thought only of others and constantly reminded everyone of how blessed his life had been."

"He was a man devoted to his family, his university, his players and his community," the statement continued.

USA Today has photos from throughout Paterno's career.