MIAC Release

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) named its football Coach of the Year Award after former Saint John's University head coach John Gagliardi, college football's all-time wins leader, the league announced Thursday, Aug. 22.

"Having this in my name is more than a fitting way to end my 60 years in the MIAC, one of the greatest college conferences," Gagliardi said.

Gagliardi announced his retirement Nov. 19 as college football's all-time wins leader with a 489-138-11 (.775) collegiate record in 64 seasons and a 465-132-10 (.774) record in 60 seasons at SJU, including a 362-99-9 (.780) record in MIAC games. Gagliardi's 64 years of collegiate coaching is the most in college football history, surpassing the old record of 57 years held by former University of Chicago and University of the Pacific coach Amos Alonzo Stagg (1890-1946). He was the first active head coach to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (Class of 2006) and received the American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) Amos Alonzo Stagg Award in 2009.

Gagliardi received the MIAC's Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor distributed by the conference, at the league's athletic directors meeting May 7 in Collegeville.

He earned the award that now bears his name 14 times in 60 seasons, roughly half the seasons in which his Johnnies either won or shared the conference title.

"It is only fitting that the Coach of the Year Award be named after John," head coach Gary Fasching '81, a 17-year assistant to Gagliardi, said. "For 64 years and 489 wins, John was the ultimate coach. He mentored young men and taught not only the game of football but countless life lessons."

In addition to the football program, Gagliardi served as Saint John's athletic director from 1976-94 and was the head coach for Saint John's track and field (1954-65) and hockey (1954-59) teams during his career. He was inducted into the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Hall of Fame in 2006.

The 2007 Liberty Mutual Division III Coach of the Year, Gagliardi tied the all-time collegiate win record, held by former Grambling State head coach Eddie Robinson, on Nov. 1, 2003, and broke the all-time record on Nov. 8, 2003, en route to a perfect 14-0 season and an NCAA Division III championship. Gagliardi also broke Robinson's record for the most games coached in college football history (588) in 2008 and coached his 600th game in 2009.

"Naming this MIAC Football Coach of the Year Award after John Gagliardi is so very fitting," SJU athletic director Tom Stock said. "I am thrilled our great league has chosen to name this wonderful coaching award after the winningest coach in the history of college football."

Gagliardi coached four national championship teams (1963, 1965, 1976 and 2003), and made the 2000 national title game. His teams reached the national semifinals six other times (1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 2001 and 2002). As a collegiate coach, Gagliardi's teams won 30 conference titles (including three at Carroll, Mont.) and appeared in 58 post-season games.

In 1993, Josten's and the SJU J-Club unveiled the Gagliardi Trophy that goes to the nation's outstanding Division III player honoring excellence in athletics, academics and community service.

MIAC Titles Won or Shared - Gagliardi Era (1953-2012)

School	No.	Last
Saint John's	27	2009
Concordia	14	2004
Gustavus Adolphus	10	1987
St. Thomas	8	2012
Bethel	4	2007
Hamline	3	1988
Minnesota-Duluth*	3	1973
St. Olaf	2	1979
Augsburg	1	1997
Carleton	1	1992

MIAC Record - Gagliardi Era (1953-2012)

School	W	L	T	Pct.
Saint John's	362	99	9	.780
Concordia	325	143	6	.692
St. Thomas	281	182	7	.605
Minnesota-Duluth*	88	64	6	.576
Gustavus Adolphus	264	199	9	.569
Bethel	153	141	3	.520
St. Olaf	149	173	4	.463
Hamline	172	295	4	.369
Carleton	83	175	0	.322
Augsburg	146	319	6	.316
Macalester%	80	297	6	.217
Saint Mary's%	0	12	0	.000

*no longer a member of the MIAC
%no longer competes in MIAC football