John Gagliardi, who last weekend broke Eddie Robinson’s record for most football games coached at an NCAA member school, will receive the American Football Coaches Association’s 64th Amos Alonzo Stagg Award.

The St. John’s (Minnesota) College Football Hall of Famer coached his 588th game September 20, three games into his record 60th season of collegiate coaching.

Gagliardi will receive the award, which honors those “whose services have been outstanding in the advancement of the best interests of football,” at the AFCA’s January convention.

He already holds the record for most coaching victories (currently 455), after surpassing Grambling coach Robinson’s mark of 408 wins in 2003 – the year he coached the Johnnies to their fourth Division III championship.

“It is truly humbling to receive this award,” Gagliardi said. “The past recipients are my heroes and a group in which I never dreamed of belonging.”

He is the third Stagg Award recipient who primarily has devoted his career to coaching in Division III, although Gagliardi spent the first four of his 60 years as a head coach at Carroll (Montana), an NAIA member. Other recipients who spent their career at Division III schools are Bob Reade of Augustana (Illinois) and Ron Schipper of Central College (Iowa).

Four other coaches who rank behind Gagliardi among the top 10 coaches in victories also are past Stagg Award recipients – Robinson (honored in 1982), Joe Paterno (2002), Paul “Bear” Bryant (1983) and Glenn “Pop” Warner (1948). The award has been presented since 1940 (no awards were presented  in 1942-45, 1950, 1956, 1976 and 1980).

Bill Walsh received last year’s award posthumously.