11/19/2012 - http://miac-online.org/news/2012/11/19/FOOTBALL_1119125021.aspx
COLLEGEVILLE,
Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)
said goodbye to its most successful - and longest tenured - coach
Monday when legendary Saint John's University Head Football Coach
John Gagliardi announced his retirement. Gagliardi retires after 60
years as the Johnnies' head coach - 64 overall as a head coach -
and his 489 career wins are the most in the history of college
football.
Though Gagliardi's career will often be defined by his numbers and
records - including 489 career wins, 27 MIAC championships, four
national titles, 638 games and 64 years as a collegiate head coach
- those around the conference will also remember his tenure for his
coaching philosophies, humor and the way he cared for his
student-athletes.
"Coach Gagliardi's influence on MIAC football has been tremendous
and impressive, spanning across the past seven decades," said Dan
McKane, MIAC executive director. "He established a winning
tradition that set numerous records, positively influenced
thousands of student-athletes and won 27 MIAC championships as well
as four national titles.
"The MIAC was lucky to have a living legend coaching in our
conference. His presence will be greatly missed after 60 wonderful
years on the sidelines."
"I doubt anyone has or will impact a sport in the MIAC as much as
John has over 60 years," added St. Thomas Athletic Director Steve
Fritz.
Gagliardi retires with a career record of 489-138-11 (.775),
including a 465-132-10 (.774) record at SJU and a 362-99-9 (.780)
record in MIAC games. Gagliardi guided the Johnnies to 27
conference championships in his 60 seasons in Collegeville.
Available records are incomplete, but Gagliardi was voted MIAC
Coach-of-the-Year at least nine times, with the most recent honor
coming in 2009 after his 27th MIAC title. He also earned the
conference's top coaching honor in 1982, 1985, 1994, 1998, 1999,
2001, 2003 and 2005.
In 2006, Gagliardi became the first active head coach to be
inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. In 1993, Josten's
and the SJU J-Club unveiled the Gagliardi Trophy, which is awarded
to the nation's outstanding Division III player based on the basis
of excellence in athletics, academics and community service.
Gagliardi received the American Football Coaches' Association
(AFCA) Amos Alonzo Stagg Award in 2009, and he was named the 2007
Liberty Mutual Division III Coach-of-the-Year.
Saint John's won national
championships in 1963, 1965, 1976 and 2003, and also reached the
title game in 2000. His teams advanced to the semifinals six
additional times. The 2003 championship season was particularly
special, as Gagliardi surpassed former Grambling State head coach
Eddie Robinson as college football's all-time wins leader on Nov.
8, 2003, en route to a perfect 14-0 season and the national
title.
He also broke Robinson's record of 588 career games coaches,
finishing with a total of 638 on the sidelines. Gagliardi's 1993
team set a record for all divisions by averaging 61.5 points per
game. His 64 years are the most ever by a collegiate head football
coach, surpassing the previous record of 57 yards by Amos Alonzo
Stagg (University of Chicago and University of the Pacific,
1890-1946).
Gagliardi also served as Saint John's athletic director from
1976-94, and was the head coach for Saint John's track and field
and hockey teams during his career as well. He was inducted into
the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
(NACA) Hall of Fame in June, 2006. He began his college coaching
career with four seasons at Carroll College (Mont.), and he has
been the subject of several books, including, "The Sweet Season" by
Sports Illustrated's Austin Murphy in 2001. Gagliardi has been
featured by the Wall Street Journal, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, USA
Today and many more national publications and TV shows.
Throughout his career, Gagliardi's coaching philosophies have been
well-documented for their focus on student-athlete well-being, and
creating a culture of fun and high expectations. His coaching
methods have been distilled into a series of "Winning with No's,"
which were unveiled in the 1960s and his philosophies include no
tackling in practice, no whistles, no blocking sleds or dummies, no
long practices, and no calling him, "Coach." Instead, his players
have simply called him, "John," for more than six decades.
"I have had the utmost respect for what [Gagliardi] has been able
to do at SJU," said Concordia College Head Football coach Terry
Horan. "I have always enjoyed competing against his teams as a
player and coach, not only because of the high level of football
being played, but more important the type of young men that were
representing SJU were second-to-none. This is a direct reflection
of the man in charge."
"When I think of Coach Gagliardi, wins and losses are not the first
thing that comes to mind," added St. Olaf Athletic Director Matt
McDonald. "I think of the countless lives crossing many generations
that he has touched over the years at Saint John's.
"The impact he has had on Saint John's and the MIAC is
immeasurable."
The Johnnies success under Gagliardi's watch has created an
incredible game-day atmosphere in Collegeville and a remarkably
dedicated fan base, as Saint John's has finished first in Division
III football attendance in 10 of the past 11 seasons. The Johnnies
routinely draw more fans than roughly half of the Division I FCS
teams, and most of the Division II teams. "The following he created
of Johnnie fans is something that we all envied over the years,"
Fritz said.
The search for Gagliardi's replacement - Saint John's first head
football coaching search since 1953 - will begin immediately.
Saint
John's Sports Information contributed to this
report.
| Saint
John's Press Release | John
Gagliardi Bio |