John Gagliardi, the legendary football coach at St. John’s (Minnesota), began his NCAA-record 60^th season overall and 56^th season at the school when the Johnnies held their first practice of the season August 15. Gagliardi is the all-time leader in NCAA football seasons coached for all divisions. Former Chicago and Pacific head coach Amos Alonzo Stagg is second with 57 seasons coached.

Gagliardi’s first college coaching post was at Carroll, where he led the program to three conference titles in his first four seasons. He moved to St. John’s in 1953. Under Gagliardi’s leadership, the Johnnies have earned four national championships (1963, 1965, 1976, 2003), won 28 conference titles and appeared in 56 postseason games.

Gagliardi also is on pace to break former Grambling State head coach Eddie Robinson’s NCAA record for the most games coached (588) on September 20 in a home contest against Concordia-Moorhead. The Johnnies open their 2008 schedule at home September 6 against East Texas Baptist.

Following are the NCAA football coaches with the longest tenures: