Before any of the football action got underway on Sunday, the state of Minnesota lost a truly legendary football coach. John Gagliardi, who spent six decades at St. John’s University in Minnesota as the school’s football coach, passed away on Sunday at the age of 91. Gagliardi too over the football program at St. John’s in 1953, and was the head coach of the Johnnies until the 2012 season, when he finally hung up his whistle. In 2003, he passed the legendary Eddie Robinson as the winningest coach in the history of college football (at any level), and finished his college coaching career with a record of 489-138-11. He also won four Division III national championships along the way, and the trophy that the outstanding player in Division III football takes home every year (their equivalent to the Heisman Trophy) was named for Gagliardi in 1993. Gagliardi had an unusual coaching style, from all accounts. This comes from the story that ESPN did on him after his passing was announced earlier on Sunday. Gagliardi used an unconventional coaching style that included no tackling in practice or lengthy calisthenics. No whistles or wind sprints. There were no team captains, either, unless you count the honor shared by the seniors. He insisted that his players just call him John, not Coach, at a school that doesn’t offer scholarships. ”John also felt great pride in his own children and his 3,000 football players,” his daughter wrote. “John honestly believed every one of his players were wonderful and he spoke often about how proud he was of them all. Not just how well they played football, but the things that mattered most to John: being hard working, successful, good men. ”When asked if he ever had a player he didn’t like, he’d say, ‘No, for some reason St John’s only draws great guys. They were great kids, all of them. From great families. I was lucky to be around them every day. They made me look good.’ And when he talked about their successes he’d say, ‘I don’t think there’s a single one who hasn’t gone on to do great things in whatever field they chose.’” Gagliardi’s coaching career actually went all the way back to his high school, Trinidad High School in Colorado, when he was hired as the coach of the football team at the age of 16. Yes, a sixteen-year old coach. What happened was the team’s regular coach was drafted into military service (for World War II), and was a player-coach in his senior year. He continued coaching high school football while getting his college degree as well. Legendary Minnesota Vikings’ head coach Bud Grant paid tribute to Gagliardi just a short time ago with one simple picture on his Twitter account. I’m not sure how many St. John’s alumni we have out there among our readers, but I think that if you’ve spent any time in the state of Minnesota watching football, you know who John Gagliardi was. He had a unique style, and he produced a lot of upstanding young men that went on to do big things after their football careers were done. Our thoughts prayers go out to the family and friends of John Gagliardi in light of John Gagliardi’s passing.<doc-sep>FILE - In a Nov. 19, 2012 file photo, St. John's University head football coach John Gagliardi addresses the media after announcing his retirement in his 60th season as coach in Collegeville, Minn. Gagliardi died Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, according to St. Johns University. He was 91. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- John Gagliardi was ahead of his time as a football coach, believing he did not need to make his players suffer for them to succeed. Using unconventional methods at a small private university in Minnesota, Gagliardi won more football games than anybody who has ever coached in college. Gagliardi died Sunday at the age of 91, according to St. John's University. ''John was a winner in so many ways, but mostly in his ability to connect with others,'' Gina Gagliardi Benson, the coach's daughter, posted on Facebook. ''His appreciation of others ran so deep that it was the core of who John was.'' Gagliardi retired in 2012 after a record 64 seasons as a head coach, with 60 of those at St. John's, an all-male private school in Collegeville. He finished with 489 victories, 138 losses and 11 ties, winning four national championships with the Johnnies. But he drew as much national attention to a school with fewer than 2,000 students with his laid-back approaches to the sport. His policy was to not cut any players from the roster and guide nonstrenuous practices that never exceeded 90 minutes. ''John Gagliardi was not only an extraordinary coach, he was also an educator of young men and builder of character,'' St. John's President Michael Hemesath said in a statement. ''John inspired deep and enduring loyalty and passion among his players across the decades because he taught them lessons through the medium of football that served them well in their personal and professional lives long after graduating from St. John's University. His is a legacy any educator would be extremely proud of.'' Where Gagliardi truly made his mark was with the word ''no.'' His entire coaching philosophy was based on a list of ''nos,'' a rejection of football's sometimes-sadistic rituals that he detested as a player. Gagliardi hated it when people called him ''coach,'' preferring John instead. Long before football became safety conscious at all levels, Gagliardi was terrified of injuries, so contact in practice was kept to a minimum and tackling was prohibited. Everybody who wanted to be on the team could make it, often leaving a roster of more than 150 players. Story continues Grueling calisthenics? No way. Same for hazing, screaming, whistles, superstitions and even practicing in extreme conditions. If the mosquitos were swarming? Forget it. ''We have one rule with our players - the golden rule,'' Gagliardi said in the 2003 interview with The Associated Press. ''Treat everybody the way you would want to be treated. We get the right guys. The ones that don't need any rules. ... We just hope they can play football.'' Gagliardi passed Grambling's Eddie Robinson for all-time coaching victories with No. 409 in 2003 and again for all-time games coached with No. 588 in 2008. The major-college leader in wins is the late Joe Paterno, who finished with 409 at Penn State from 1966-2011. The journey for Gagliardi began at Carroll College in Montana in 1949 when three conference titles in four years changed that school's mind about dropping the sport. He then moved east to St. John's, a Catholic institution founded in 1857 by Benedictine monks who came to minister to the influx of German immigrants in central Minnesota. Though Gagliardi - born in the mining town of Trinidad, Colorado - knew little about the school when he showed up, he soon found his niche. During the hiring process, the monks asked him if he could beat rival St. Thomas and another conference foe, Gustavus. ''I had never heard of them,'' Gagliardi said. ''But I said, 'Sure.''' St. John's went 6-2 and won the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in his first season, his first of 27 MIAC titles. ''When I came to Minnesota ... I'd never seen television,'' Gagliardi said in the 2003 interview. ''I was unmarried at the time, living in the dorms. I asked them if I could have a TV set. They weren't so sure at first. But after we beat St. Thomas and Gustavus, they were like, 'You still want that TV?''' Saturdays eventually became an event on the serene, secluded campus as the Johnnies thrived under Gagliardi's leadership. Red-clad fans have routinely packed Clemens Stadium, a natural bowl field carved into the woods where 7,500 people watch from the seats and more still sit along the grassy slopes beneath the orange hues of autumn. As he built a power at the NCAA's non-scholarship Division III level, Gagliardi was quick to shrug off his success with self-deprecating humor. One of Gags' favorite gags was to pluck a time-worn, dog-eared book off the shelf in his office and point to the title on the cover: ''Everything I know about coaching football for 35 years.'' Inside, every page was blank. Gagliardi, however, was fiercely proud of his longevity, openly speaking about outlasting Amos Alonzo Stagg, who was 84 in his last season as the head coach at Pacific in 1946. Stagg's career lasted a mere 57 years. The first active coach to be elected to the College Football Hall of Fame, in 2006, Gagliardi wasn't always revered by his peers. Opponents sometimes accused his teams of running up the score. In 1991, St. John's beat Coe College of Iowa 75-2. The Johnnies started their 2003 championship season with a 74-7 win at Hamline. Their defense, though, was that their fourth-stringers were often just as good as some of the opponents' starters, especially in the top-heavy MIAC. ''John honestly believed every one of his players were wonderful and he spoke often about how proud he was of them all. Not just how well they played football, but the things that mattered most to John: being hard-working, successful, good men,'' Gagliardi Benson wrote. Gagliardi is survived by his wife, Peg, two daughters, two sons and numerous grandchildren.<doc-sep>MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) — One of the greatest coaches in college football history, who Minnesotans know better than most, has died. John Gagliardi died Sunday morning at 91 years old. The local legend spent 60 years as the head coach of the St. John’s University football team. With a list of accolades and NCAA records almost as long as his illustrious coaching career, it’s almost impossible to think of St. John’s University football without including coach Gagliardi. “John has this aura of success that might be intimidating and what I would tell you is if you spend two minutes with him, that immediately goes way,” said Blake Elliott. Elliott was one of thousands of players who donned a Johnnie’s jersey under Gagliardi. An All-American wide receiver who led his team to a D-III national championship in 2003, Elliot said his esteemed coach created a culture his teammates coveted. Gagliardi was known for never cutting players, making the rosters balloon to 200 players. “It was the expectation that if you’re gonna beat out 17 or 18 other kids to start, that you were going to be a good student. That you were gonna work out and lift weights. That you were going to practice hard and watch films and be respectful, and do the right thing all the time,” said Elliott. “And if you didn’t, somebody else was gonna play.” Gagliardi’s accomplishments are staggering. He has 489 wins, the most in NCAA history. He led St. John’s to five D-III national championship games, winning four of them (1963, 1965, 1976 and 2003). He won 27 conference titles at St. John’s. But he also well known for his “No’s,” such as no whistles and no tackling in practice. “It wasn’t because of some sort of medical knowledge that he had, it was because he cared about his players,” said Elliott. “And he knew that they had a life after football and you wanted them to be safe and healthy. He also wanted them to be healthy on Saturdays so they could be effective.” For more than six decades, Gagliardi coached young men on the field and in life. And Elliot feels the lessons they learned will continue having an impact even with their beloved coach gone. “In terms of creating great husbands and great doctors and great people in their profession, that is John’s true legacy,” he said. Last week, Gagliardi was the first inductee into the St. John’s Hall of Honor. His family, along with former players such as Elliott, were there for the ceremony. Elliot said he was thankful they were all able to share that moment, knowing their time with Gagliardi was short. Gagliardi is survived by his wife, Peg, two daughters, two sons and numerous grandchildren. “There will never be another John,” said Bob Alpers, who has been golf coach at SJU for 26 years and athletic director since 2016. “We are forever grateful for his contributions to Saint John’s, our student-athletes and the fans of Johnnie football.” (© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)<doc-sep>The college football world has lost a coaching icon. Legendary Saint John's University (Minnesota) football coach John Gagliardi, who gained national notoriety for an unconventional coaching style that didn't include tackling in practice or require players to participate in strength and conditioning workouts, passed away Sunday at 91. Gagliardi, college football's all-time winningest coach with 489 victories, won four national titles at Division III Saint John's (1963, 1965, 1976 and 2003) in his 60-year tenure. The Johnnies won 27 conference titles and made the postseason 24 times. "I offer my deepest condolences to John's wife, Peggy, his family and friends and the thousands of Saint John's alumni who played for him," said SJU President Michael Hemesath in a school statement. "John Gagliardi was not only an extraordinary coach, he was also an educator of young men and builder of character. John inspired deep and enduring loyalty and passion among his players across the decades because he taught them lessons through the medium of football that served them well in their personal and professional lives long after graduating from Saint John's University. "His is a legacy any educator would be extremely proud of." More:Why John Gagliardi was so important Gagliardi was the first active coach to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006, and retired in 2012. During his time at SJU, he also coached track and field and hockey, as well as serving as the athletic director from 1976-94. Gagliardi produced 113 All-Americans, as well as 22 Academic All-Americans. Since 1993, the Gagliardi Trophy has been awarded to the best Division III player in the nation.<doc-sep>
John Gagliardi, the winningest coach in college football history, has died at the age of 91. Gagliardi's daughter Gina Gagliardi Benson announced the former coach's death Sunday morning on Facebook. "John was a winner in so many ways, but mostly in his ability to connect with others," she wrote. "His appreciation of others ran so deep that it was the core of who John was." Gagliardi began his coaching career in 1949 and spent six decades (1953-2012) at Division III Saint John's University in Minnesota. He retired with a record of 489-138-11 and surpassed Eddie Robinson for the career wins record in 2003, piling up four national titles at Saint John's along the way. Saint John's president Michael Hemesath offered condolences to Gagliardi's wife, Peggy, as well as his family, friends and former players. "John Gagliardi was not only an extraordinary coach, he was also an educator of young men and builder of character" Hemesath said in a statement. "John inspired deep and enduring loyalty and passion among his players across the decades because he taught them lessons through the medium of football that served them well in their personal and professional lives long after graduating from Saint John's University. His is a legacy any educator would be extremely proud of." Saint John's athletic director Bob Alpers said "there will never be another John" in a statement and that the school is "forever grateful for his contributions." Gagliardi used an unconventional coaching style that included no tackling in practice or lengthy calisthenics. No whistles or wind sprints. There were no team captains, either, unless you count the honor shared by the seniors. He insisted that his players just call him John, not Coach, at a school that doesn't offer scholarships. "John also felt great pride in his own children and his 3,000 football players," his daughter wrote. "John honestly believed every one of his players were wonderful and he spoke often about how proud he was of them all. Not just how well they played football, but the things that mattered most to John: being hard working, successful, good men. "When asked if he ever had a player he didn't like, he'd say, 'No, for some reason St John's only draws great guys. They were great kids, all of them. From great families. I was lucky to be around them every day. They made me look good.' And when he talked about their successes he'd say, 'I don't think there's a single one who hasn't gone on to do great things in whatever field they chose.'" Gagliardi began his college coaching career at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, from 1949 to 1952. He also served as Carroll's basketball coach and had a stint as ice hockey coach at Saint John's. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006. Since 1993, Division III's outstanding player of the year has taken home the Gagliardi Trophy. "In honor of John, today make an effort to do what was effortless for John: Compliment your spouse many, many times today; listen intently to others; and 'Be interested, not interesting.' See the best in others," Gina Gagliardi Benson wrote. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.