Public Forum Live Video
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's University (Minn.) Athletic Director Tom Stock announced Friday, Dec. 14, that three SJU graduates have been invited to campus as finalists in the institution's search for a new head football coach.
The candidates include Gary Fasching '81, a defensive assistant coach and SJU's recruiting coordinator; Mike Grant '79, head coach at Eden Prairie (Minn.) High School; and Kurt Ramler '97, former head coach at Carleton College.
The candidates will each be on campus for one day Monday through Wednesday, Dec. 17-19, for interviews with members of the university's administration, athletic department and football staff. Media are welcome to attend the public forums for each finalist.
Grant will be on campus Monday and his public forum is scheduled from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Alumni Lounge on the first floor of the SJU Quadrangular. Fasching's public forum is from 10-11 a.m. Tuesday in J-Club Room within the Warner Palaestra. Ramler will have his forum from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Wednesday in room 264 of the Quad.
The public forums will allow the finalists time to introduce themselves and members of the assembly to ask questions of the candidates. Candidates will not be available for individual sessions with the media.
Grant recently won his eighth Minnesota State championship in 21 seasons as head coach at Eden Prairie High School in 2012. A five-time large-school state coach of the year, Grant has led his teams to 17 state-tournament appearances and 16 conference titles. He currently boasts a 274-66 (.806) career record and a 229-24 (.905) record at Eden Prairie. As an SJU student-athlete, Grant was a sophomore on the 1976 NCAA Division III national championship team and ended his career as the school's all-time leader among tight ends in receptions (53), receiving yards (681) and receiving touchdowns (8), though his marks have since been surpassed. Grant also averaged 36.1 yards on 42 punts as a freshman and sophomore. He is the son of NFL Hall of Famer and former Minnesota Vikings head coach Bud Grant. – Grant's Education/Coaching History
Fasching ended his 17th season as an assistant football coach and recruiting coordinator at SJU. Seventy-two Minnesota High School All-Star game participants have attended Saint John's during his tenure. Eleven SJU defensive linemen earned a total of 15 All-America honors during his 16 seasons as the program's defensive line coach before switching to linebacker duties in 2012. Fasching also serves as the University's McGlynn Fitness Center director and an assistant coach for the track and field team. He was a three-year starter for the Johnnies at linebacker (1977-78, 1980-81; defensive statistics were not recorded prior to 1983) and served as the head football coach at St. Cloud Cathedral High School from 1986-95. During that time, Fasching led the Crusaders to the State Class B title in 1992 and 1993. – Fasching's Education/Coaching History
Ramler served as head coach at Carleton for six seasons from 2006-11 after coaching as an offensive assistant at four institutions, including a one-year stint at SJU (2002). He was named the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Coach of the Year in 2008 after leading Carleton to a 7-3 record, its best season since 1992. Following three seasons as the Johnnies' starting quarterback, Ramler ended his career as the school's all-time leader in pass attempts (927), pass completions (525), passing yards (8,134), 300-yard passing games (8), passing touchdowns (87) and wins as a starter (27-3-1 record) before Alex Kofoed (2004-07) surpassed each mark. He was named the MIAC's Most Valuable Player, a Gagliardi Trophy finalist and an Academic All-American as a senior in 1996. – Ramler's Education/Coaching History
