John Gagliardi

About

John Gagliardi was a renowned American football coach, best known for his impressive record in college football. Born on November 1, 1926, he began his coaching career at a young age and went on to become one of the most successful coaches in history. Gagliardi coached for 64 seasons, with 60 of those years spent at Saint John's University in Minnesota. His achievements include holding the record for the most college football wins with a career record of 489–138–11. Gagliardi's coaching philosophy, known as "Winning with No's," emphasized player safety and innovative tactics. He prohibited tackling in practices and did not require weightlifting, which contributed to his teams' success while minimizing injuries. Under his leadership, Saint John's won four national championships and 27 conference titles. Gagliardi was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and received numerous awards for his contributions to the sport. He retired in 2012 and passed away on October 7, 2018, leaving a lasting legacy in college football.