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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WACH, AP) -- Joe Paterno has died. He was 85.

The hospital where Paterno was being treated says the cause of death was a spreading lung cancer.

The Mount Nittany Medical Center says Paterno was surrounded by family members, who have requested privacy.

Paterno's son had said in November that his father had been diagnosed with a treatable form of lung cancer during a follow-up visit for a bronchial illness.

The storied career of "JoePa" included 409 wins in 46 seasons and two national championships.

But his reputation for success with honor was shattered when a former assistant was charged with molesting 10 boys during a 15-year span, including some in the Penn State athletic complex.

Critics said Paterno should have done more to stop it. He was fired Nov. 9.

In all, Paterno guided five teams to unbeaten, untied seasons.

USC head football coach Steve Spurrier released a statement Sunday afternoon on Paterno's death. "I have the utmost respect and admiration for Joe Paterno. I've coached around 300 college games

and only once when I've met the other coach at midfield prior to the game have I asked a photographer to take a picture of me with the other coach. That happened in the Citrus Bowl after the '97

season when we were playing Penn State. I had one of our university photographers take the picture with me and Coach Paterno, and I still have that photo in the den at my house. That's the admiration

I have for Joe Paterno. It was sad how it ended, but he was a great person and coach."