Photo courtesy of gojohnnies.com

John Gagliardi, former coach of the St. John’s football team, died Oct. 7 in Collegeville. He was 91.

Gagliardi began his coaching career in 1949 at Carroll College in Montana. He took over as coach of St. John’s at the start of 1953 and held that same position for 60 years until he retired in 2012.

“John was a winner in so many ways, but mostly in his ability to connect with others,” Gina Gagliardi, John’s daughter, said in a Facebook post. “His appreciation of others ran so deep that it was the core of who John was.”

Gagliardi ended his coaching career with a record of 489-138-11, which is more than any other coach in NCAA history. He guided St. John’s to a perfect 14-0 record and a national championship in 2004.

His 64 years coaching is the most in college football.