Former Penn State football defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky will receive the Outstanding Achievement Award in January from the American Football Coaches Association, the AFCA announced.

The award recognizes AFCA members who have "achieved outstanding success while coaching football," a news release reads. The AFCA trustees established the annual distinction.

Sandusky coached at Penn State for 32 years after playing for the university as a student. He coached 11 First-Team All-America linebackers, and he has coached in 29 bowl games, according to the AFCA. In his final game for Penn State, he helped coach the Nittany Lions through a 24-0 victory over Texas A&M.

Sandusky retired from the Nittany Lions after the 1999 season and began working more with The Second Mile, his nonprofit organization. Each year, the statewide organization reaches more than 100,000 disadvantaged children with programming to encourage self-confidence and personal development.

A member of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Sandusky will receive the AFCA Outstanding Achievement Award at the President's Kickoff Luncheon on Jan. 11 in Dallas, Texas, according to the association. Prior award winners include Tim Marcum, Joe Moore, Homer Smith, Ted Kempski, Ken Donahue and Roland Christensen.