(New York Times) John Gagliardi, who won more games (489) and coached more seasons (64) than anyone in the history of college football, announced his retirement Monday, nine days after wrapping up his 60th season at Division III St. John\u2019s University in Collegeville, Minn.<\/p>\n
The only active coach to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, the 86-year-old Gagliardi chose to retire after the Johnnies finished their first nonwinning season since 1986 at 5-5, and their first losing season in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play (3-5) since 1973.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been thinking about it all through my 80s, so six or seven years now,\u201d Gagliardi said Monday in a telephone interview. \u201cI don\u2019t know. I just decided that enough is enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gagliardi insisted that the decision was his alone and that the university did not force him out. St. John\u2019s has not won an M.I.A.C. title or been to the N.C.A.A. playoffs since a 10-1 season in 2009, while going 7-3, 6-4 and 5-5 the last three years. This season the Johnnies endured their first four-game losing streak since 1930, and their first 0-4 start in M.I.A.C. play since 1929. Gagliardi\u2019s career ended with a 27-22 loss to Bethel on Nov. 10.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy closing could have been better,\u201d Gagliardi said. \u201cBut it could have been a heck of a lot worse.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gagliardi came to St. John\u2019s, a liberal arts school founded by Benedictine monks about 80 miles northwest of Minneapolis, in 1953, after four seasons at Carroll College in Helena, Mont. He succeeded Johnny (Blood) McNally, a former Green Bay Packer and part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame\u2019s inaugural induction class in 1963.<\/p>\n
McNally, who played at St. John\u2019s before quitting to play in the N.F.L., reportedly told Gagliardi that no coach could win at the school. In Gagliardi\u2019s first season, he directed the Johnnies to the first of his 27 M.I.A.C. titles.<\/p>\n
St. John\u2019s won N.A.I.A. national championships in 1963 and \u201965 under Gagliardi, and N.C.A.A. Division III titles in 1976 and 2003. Also in 2003, when St. John\u2019s finished 14-0, Gagliardi won his 409th game to break former Grambling coach Eddie Robinson\u2019s record for career victories.<\/p>\n
He lasted seven seasons longer than the former record-holder Amos Alonzo Stagg of the University of Chicago and the University of the Pacific. Since 1993, the award for Division III\u2019s best player has been named for Gagliardi.<\/p>\n
\u201cArguably, John Gagliardi has impacted the lives of as many young men as any individual in the history of St. John\u2019s University,\u201d the university president Michael Hemesath said in a statement. \u201cHis legacy of educating young men at St. John\u2019s is one that any coach or professor would envy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gagliardi was known for unconventional coaching methods that were often called \u201cWinning With Nos\u201d \u2014 no tackling in practice, no hitting blocking sleds, no mandatory weight training and no practices longer than 90 minutes. Gagliardi and his assistants never wore whistles, either. He often carried more than 100 players on his roster \u2014 this year\u2019s team had 185 \u2014 and players could arrive late for practice without penalty if coming from class.<\/p>\n
No calling Gagliardi \u201cCoach,\u201d either. He insisted everyone call him John.<\/p>\n
Gagliardi, who received recognition from President Obama on Monday, has been around so long that he coached three of his grandsons, most recently Billy Gagliardi, a freshman wide receiver. John Gagliardi has long wished for his son Jim, Billy\u2019s father and the Johnnies longtime offensive coordinator, to succeed him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope he gets a shot at the job,\u201d Gagliardi said. \u201cIf we had had a better season, or were coming off a national championship or were 15-0, he might have a better shot. But who knows what will happen?\u201d<\/p>\n
Other candidates include Mike Grant, the son of the former Minnesota Vikings coach Bud Grant and a former St. John\u2019s tight end who seeks his eighth state title at Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota this week. Bud Grant once offered Gagliardi an assistant\u2019s job with the Vikings.<\/p>\n
Gagliardi said the search committee would not seek his input, which frustrates him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have any say,\u201d Gagliardi said. \u201cThat\u2019s the ridiculous part.\u201d<\/p>\n
View Entire Article and Comments… Here<\/a><\/p>\n After 489 Wins, Coach Chooses Retirement (New York Times) John Gagliardi, who won more games (489) and coached more seasons (64) than anyone in the history of college football, announced his retirement Monday, nine days after wrapping up his 60th season at Division III St. John\u2019s … Continue reading
\nNovember 19, 2012
\nPat Borzi
\nNew York Times<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"