STATE COLLEGE, PA. ? A decision on a new contract for Penn State’s Joe Paterno is on hold until the end of this season, when the 81-year-old coach’s current deal expires.

University president Graham Spanier told the Associated Press in an e-mail that the school and Paterno, who is entering his record 43rd season as coach, agree a new contract isn’t necessary right now.

“We are in agreement that a contract would have little practicality given Coach Paterno’s seniority. None of us see that as necessary,” Spanier wrote in the e-mail.