 He chose to join Bennie Oosterbaan 's Michigan coaching staff for six years ( 1948 – 53 ) , including the national champion 1948 Michigan Wolverines football team . Then , for 26 seasons , from 1954 through 1979 , J.T. was a defensive line coach at Penn State , first under Rip Engle and then under Joe Paterno , who took over in 1966 . When White moved to Penn State to work for Engle , the staff included Paterno , Earle Bruce , Sever <unk> , Jim O <unk> and Jim Patrick . His tenure on the staff included three undefeated and untied seasons ( 1968 , 1969 and 1973 ) . Subsequently , from 1980 – 1982 , he served as assistant to the Penn State Athletic Director . 
