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SPORTS Monday 8 october 2018
Gagliardi, college football's winningest coach, dies at 91

By DAVE CAMPBELL, AP ball's sometimes-sadistic St. John's went 6-2 and won
Sports Writer rituals that he detested as the Minnesota Intercolle-
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — John a player. Gagliardi hated giate Athletic Conference
Gagliardi was ahead of his it when people called him in his first season, his first of
time as a football coach, "coach," preferring John in- 27 MIAC titles.
believing he did not need stead. Long before football "When I came to Minne-
to make his players suffer became safety conscious sota ... I'd never seen tele-
for them to succeed. at all levels, Gagliardi was vision," Gagliardi said in the
Using unconventional terrified of injuries, so con- 2003 interview. "I was un-
methods at a small private tact in practice was kept married at the time, living in
university in Minnesota, Ga- to a minimum and tackling the dorms. I asked them if
gliardi won more football was prohibited. Everybody I could have a TV set. They
games than anybody who who wanted to be on the weren't so sure at first. But
has ever coached in col- team could make it, often after we beat St. Thomas
lege. leaving a roster of more and Gustavus, they were In a Nov. 19, 2012 file photo, St. John's University head football
Gagliardi died Sunday at than 150 players. like, 'You still want that TV?'" coach John Gagliardi addresses the media after announcing
the age of 91, according Grueling calisthenics? No Saturdays eventually be- his retirement in his 60th season as coach in Collegeville, Minn.
to St. John's University. way. Same for hazing, came an event on the se-
"John was a winner in so screaming, whistles, super- rene, secluded campus as seats and more still sit along deprecating humor. One
many ways, but mostly in stitions and even practic- the Johnnies thrived under the grassy slopes beneath of Gags' favorite gags was
his ability to connect with ing in extreme conditions. If Gagliardi's leadership. Red- the orange hues of au- to pluck a time-worn, dog-
others," Gina Gagliardi Ben- the mosquitos were swarm- clad fans have routinely tumn. As he built a power eared book off the shelf in
son, the coach's daughter, ing? Forget it. packed Clemens Stadium, at the NCAA's non-schol- his office and point to the
posted on Facebook. "His "We have one rule with our a natural bowl field carved arship Division III level, Ga- title on the cover: "Every-
appreciation of others ran players — the golden rule," into the woods where 7,500 gliardi was quick to shrug thing I know about coach-
so deep that it was the Gagliardi said in the 2003 people watch from the off his success with self- ing football for 35 years."q
core of who John was." interview with The Associat-
Gagliardi retired in 2012 af- ed Press. "Treat everybody
ter a record 64 seasons as the way you would want
a head coach, with 60 of to be treated. We get the
those at St. John's, an all- right guys. The ones that
male private school in Col- don't need any rules. ... We
legeville. He finished with just hope they can play
489 victories, 138 losses and football."
11 ties, winning four na- Gagliardi passed Gram-
tional championships with bling's Eddie Robinson for
the Johnnies. But he drew all-time coaching victories
as much national attention with No. 409 in 2003 and
to a school with fewer than again for all-time games
2,000 students with his laid- coached with No. 588 in
back approaches to the 2008. The major-college
sport. His policy was to not leader in wins is the late
cut any players from the Joe Paterno, who finished
roster and guide nonstren- with 409 at Penn State from
uous practices that never 1966-2011.
exceeded 90 minutes. The journey for Gagliardi
"John Gagliardi was not began at Carroll College
only an extraordinary in Montana in 1949 when
coach, he was also an ed- three conference titles in
ucator of young men and four years changed that
builder of character," St. school's mind about drop-
John's President Michael ping the sport. He then
Hemesath said in a state- moved east to St. John's, a
ment. "John inspired deep Catholic institution found-
and enduring loyalty and ed in 1857 by Benedictine
passion among his play- monks who came to minis-
ers across the decades ter to the influx of German
because he taught them immigrants in central Min-
lessons through the medi- nesota. Though Gagliardi
um of football that served — born in the mining town
them well in their personal of Trinidad, Colorado —
and professional lives long knew little about the school
after graduating from St. when he showed up, he
John's University. His is a leg- soon found his niche.
acy any educator would During the hiring process,
be extremely proud of." the monks asked him if he
Where Gagliardi truly made could beat rival St. Thomas
his mark was with the word and another conference
"no." foe, Gustavus.
His entire coaching philoso- "I had never heard of
phy was based on a list of them," Gagliardi said. "But I
"nos," a rejection of foot- said, 'Sure.'"