IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 438
Congratulating John Gagliardi, football coach of St. John’s University, on 
the occasion of his becoming the all-time winningest coach in collegiate 
football history. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 10, 2003
Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota (for himself, Mr. KLINE, Mr. SABO, Mr. GUT-
KNECHT, and Mr. OBERSTAR) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
RESOLUTION 
Congratulating John Gagliardi, football coach of St. John’s 
University, on the occasion of his becoming the all-time 
winningest coach in collegiate football history.
Whereas John Gagliardi began his coaching career in 1943 
at the age of 16 when his high school football coach was 
drafted and John Gagliardi asked to take over his posi-
tion; 
Whereas John Gagliardi won four conference titles during the 
six years he coached high school football; 
Whereas John Gagliardi graduated from Colorado College in 
1949 and began coaching football, basketball, and base-
ball at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, winning titles 
in all three sports;
•HRES 438 IH 
Whereas John Gagliardi took over the football program at St. 
John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, in 1953 and 
the football team won the Minnesota Intercollegiate Ath-
letic Conference title in his first year as coach; 
Whereas by the end of the 2002 season, John Gagliardi had 
won three national championships, coached 25 conference 
title teams, appeared in 45 post-season games and com-
piled a 400–114–11 record during his 50 years at St. 
John’s University; 
Whereas under the leadership of John Gagliardi, St. John’s 
University has been nationally ranked 37 times in the 
past 39 years, and the university set a record with a 61.5 
points per game average in 1993; 
Whereas over 150 students participate in the St. John’s Uni-
versity football program each year and every player 
dresses for home games; 
Whereas John Gagliardi’s coaching methods follow the ‘‘Win-
ning with No’s’’ theory: no blocking sleds or dummies, no 
whistles, no tackling in practices, no athletic scholarships, 
and no long practices; 
Whereas John Gagliardi has coached over 5,000 players dur-
ing his 50 years at St. John’s University, and no player 
has failed to graduate and most have graduated in four 
years; 
Whereas, in 1993, the John Gagliardi trophy was unveiled, 
and it is given each year to the most outstanding Divi-
sion III football player; 
Whereas on November 1, 2003, John Gagliardi tied Gram-
bling University coach Eddie Robinson’s record of 408 
wins with a 15 to 12 victory over the University of St. 
Thomas;
•HRES 438 IH 
Whereas on November 8, 2003, John Gagliardi broke Eddie 
Robinson’s record with a 29 to 26 victory over Bethel 
College; 
Whereas John Gagliardi is admired by his players, as well as 
by the students, faculty, and fans of St. John’s Univer-
sity for his ability to motivate and inspire; 
Whereas students who take his course, Theory of Football, 
credit John Gagliardi for teaching them more about life 
than about football; 
Whereas those closest to John Gagliardi will tell you that 
football is only part of his life—he values the time he 
spends with Peg, his wife of 47 years, and their four chil-
dren; and 
Whereas the on- and off-the-field accomplishments of John 
Gagliardi have placed him in an elite club that includes 
the best coaches in history: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives con-
gratulates John Gagliardi, football coach of St. John’s 
University in Collegeville, Minnesota, on becoming the all-
time winningest coach in collegiate football history.
Æ