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| Kurt Ramler did not get the
head coaching job at St. John's last offseason, but will try to
bring St. Scholastica to the next level. Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com |
St. John's associate head coach and offensive coordinator Kurt Ramler was named head football coach at St. Scholastica.
He replaces Greg Carlson, St. Scholastica's first head football coach, who retired Jan. 30 after compiling a 39-22 record with three Upper Midwest Athletic Conference regular-season championships and three NCAA Division III Playoff appearances in six seasons.
"I am excited to become the new head football coach at the College of St. Scholastica and to join the Scholastica community," said Ramler. "I have enjoyed all that I have learned about the community, the athletic department, and the team.
"Greg Carlson and his staff did a tremendous job building a championship program that did things the right way both on and off the field. We will look forward to working fervently to continue that tradition, and I am grateful to (athletic director) Don Olson and the Scholastica community for the opportunity."
A former quarterback and assistant coach under college football's all-time wins leader, John Gagliardi, Ramler has been an assistant at Hamilton and Heidelberg and was head coach at Carleton.
"I believe Scholastica is a great fit for me because the college offers what I believe Division III athletics are all about; a great community, a great education, and a great experience," Ramler said.
"Part of the allure for me is the historic tradition established by the Benedictine sisters here at Scholastica; years ago they built an amazing college comprised of amazing people. We hope to build a football team that reflects that tradition."
Ramler earned his bachelor's degree in English Literature from Saint John's and a master's in education from Wagner.
"We plan to play an intelligently aggressive brand of football and we plan to have fun working hard to be the best that we can be," said Ramler.
The process to replace Ramler at St. John's begins immediately.
"I am incredibly grateful to Gary Fasching, athletic director Tom Stock and the Saint John's community for allowing me to serve at Saint John's University," Ramler said. "When I joined the staff, I told myself that it would have to be a tremendous opportunity for me to leave this unrivaled football program and amazing athletic department. I could not have foreseen that an opportunity of this nature would present itself so quickly.
"I hope that I helped in some small way in the transition from John (Gagliardi) to Gary. I enjoyed last season tremendously and I will miss the Saint John's and Saint Benedict community, particularly the players, alumni and coaches. I will always be proud to be a Johnnie."
Ramler compiled a 22-38 record at Carleton from 2006-11 and was named the MIAC Coach of the Year in 2008 after leading the Knights to a 7-3 record, their best season since 1992.
Prior to Carleton, Ramler served as an offensive assistant at four institutions, including a one-year stint at SJU (2002). He was the offensive coordinator at Heidelberg from 2003-05, coached wide receivers at Division I-AA Wagner (N.Y.) in 2001, and coached quarterbacks and wide receivers at Hamilton for two seasons from 1999-2000.