In addition to spending a substantial amount of his time working with The Second Mile, the non-profit organization he founded in 1977 to help children, Sandusky has been running youth football camps and clinics, giving speeches, and helping to write a book about his experiences at Penn State.
Sandusky's primary focus, though, has been The Second Mile. The charity, which offers 10 different programs aimed at "providing children with help and hope," its Web site says, has grown substantially since its inception. That trend appears likely to continue with Sandusky's help and efforts.
A five-year strategic plan to expand the existing programs, and possibly add more, guides the organization. Recently, his role in that planning process has involved catching up with new developments. There is so much going on with The Second Mile that, even as the founder, he is learning new things.
Sandusky also works extensively to fundraise for the group, making appearances across the state.
"It's a very rewarding experience to go there and hear young adults talk about what The Second Mile had meant to them," he said.
Christine Faust, The Second Mile's development director, said Sandusky's availability has contributed to growth and funding. She also said his presence has been inspirational to the group.
"He's important as the founder," she said, "but also valuable as a human being with his leadership, his drive and his energy."
In addition to his administrative duties, Sandusky spends a lot of time with children who are involved with The Second Mile. He said he has been visiting with young people all over the state, including those who are in foster families or are attending Second Mile summer camps.
"He isn't just talking about this stuff," Faust said, "he's out there spending time with Second Mile kids."
Sandusky might be well on his way to writing a new chapter in his life, but the legacy he leaves behind — a legacy of a living Penn State legend, won't be easily forgotten.
The current coaching staff, who had their first day of meetings Monday, went back to work without Sandusky.
"I won't miss that," Sandusky said with a laugh, citing the many hours that go into game-planning as the part of coaching he'll miss the least.
What will he miss the most?
"You miss two things," he said. "You miss the relationships with the players and the bonding that takes place under a pressurized situation."
And Sandusky also will miss the excitement of game day.
Special players and thrilling games were never in short supply for the man who helped Penn State become nationally recognized as Linebacker U.
Jack Ham, a NFL Hall of Famer, was one of the first linebackers Sandusky coached at Penn State. He remembers Sandusky's emphasis on technique, on being fundamentally sound and mentally tough.
"I saw that immediately," Ham said. "I'm not surprised that he became one of the best minds in college football and had such a great career at Penn State."
Sandusky had the chance to coach many of college football's great defensive players during his tenure -- players such as Shane Conlan, Kim Herring, and Courtney Brown.
"Being at a place like Penn State," Sandusky said, "where people were very capable, physically and mentally, of doing what you asked them to do, obviously made you feel a lot better about what you were doing."
He also distinguished himself as a part of two national championship teams, including the 1986 team that put on a legendary defensive performance against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl.
That game and that season stand out as perhaps the most memorable of his coaching career. He recalled the determination and will to win of the 1986 squad.
"You remember the people who made it happen," he said. "You remember the quality of their character, their intelligence, and their work ethic."
Certainly, the opportunity to coach two of his adopted sons, E.J. and Jon, was a special one for the coach. Although he didn't really deal with his player-sons often, and had little to do with day-to-day decisions regarding things like their playing time, having them around was a positive experience.
"It was pretty special, being able to run out of the tunnel and see my dad on the sidelines," Jon Sandusky said. "It was a dream come true."
Asked if his dad would miss coaching, Jon said, "He'll miss the thrill of breaking down opponents, and he'll probably get antsy when the season starts."
So now that the lines are being painted on the practice field and the preseason previews are showing up on newsstands, is Sandusky still comfortable with his decision?
"Yes," he said.
"I've been so occupied that I really haven't had time to dwell on what could have been or what I might have been doing."
When asked about possibly returning to visit future Lions' practices, Sandusky said, "I might just peek in, I don't think I'll be offering any tips."
He's satisfied with what he is doing now and added that he still gets the opportunity to coach through football camps, and perhaps in the future, midget football.
Unfortunately for the legions of football fans to whom he has become a legend, Sandusky's Pop Warner games probably won't be carried by ESPN. For them, their icon and his famous deeds will become part of a rich past.
"It isn't anything that I really dwelled on," Sandusky said, referring to his place in Penn State lore. "I just felt the obligation to do what I was doing as well as I possibly could do it, and to enjoy myself along the way."
The last time fans nationwide got to see their coaching hero, he was being carried triumphantly off the field by his players, following a shutout victory in the Alamo Bowl. It was a fitting send off — especially after the three tough losses the team had endured to end the season.
"They were as difficult as any to handle," Sandusky said. "It was the icing on the cake."
He remembered worrying more about substituting players in at the end of the game than maintaining the shutout.
"Tom Bradley came up to me and said, 'They don't want to substitute, they want to get the shutout,' " Sandusky said. "It was maybe even more important for the players."
