After five years as the head baseball coach and an assistant football coach at Rice and Florida, Joe Bedenk returned to Penn State in 1929 as an assistant to head coach Hugo Bezdek in both football and baseball. When Bezdek retired from coaching after the 1930 season, Bedenk succeeded him in baseball while continuing as the football line coach.
Joe Bedenk served as baseball coach at Penn State University from 1931-62, compiling a record of 380-158-3, good for second all-time in wins for a Nittany Lion head coach. Nine of his baseball teams played in the NCAA Tournament and three appeared in the College World Series, including 1957, when the Nittany Lions placed second.
In honor of the legendary coach, the F. Joseph Bedenk Award is presented each year to the most valuable member of the Penn State baseball team.
Bedenk also served as the Nittany Lions' head football coach for one season (1949).
Bedenk was a past president (1948) and founding member of the ABCA.
