64 seasons of football
After 489 Wins, Coach Chooses Retirement
By PAT BORZI, NYT
Published: November 19, 2012
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’s University in Collegeville, Minn.The 86-year-old Gagliardi, who had been one of two active head coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame, 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.
“I’ve been thinking about it all through my 80s, so six or seven years now,” Gagliardi said Monday in a telephone interview. “I don’t know. I just decided that enough is enough.”
Gagliardi insisted that the decision was his alone and that the university did not force him out. St. John’s 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’s career ended with a 27-22 loss to Bethel on Nov. 10.
(More here.)
By PAT BORZI, NYT
Published: November 19, 2012
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’s University in Collegeville, Minn.The 86-year-old Gagliardi, who had been one of two active head coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame, 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.
“I’ve been thinking about it all through my 80s, so six or seven years now,” Gagliardi said Monday in a telephone interview. “I don’t know. I just decided that enough is enough.”
Gagliardi insisted that the decision was his alone and that the university did not force him out. St. John’s 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’s career ended with a 27-22 loss to Bethel on Nov. 10.
(More here.)
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