Joe Gardi Joseph Gardi ( c . 1939 – June 3 , 2010 ) was an American football coach . He served sixteen years as the head coach for the Hofstra University football team . Early life . Gardi was born in Harrison , New Jersey where he attended Harrison High School . While there , he was named a first - team all - state offensive guard as a senior in 1955 . He attended the University of Maryland , where he played football from 1959 to 1960 as an offensive tackle and linebacker . He served as a team co - captain and received the Unsung Hero Award . He graduated with a bachelor of science degree in business administration . In 1960 , he was signed by the Washington Redskins of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played in two pre - season games before being released . In 1961 , he attended camp with the Buffalo Bills , but did not make the team . Coaching career . High school . In 1964 , he was hired as the head football coach for the Oratory Preparatory School in Summit , New Jersey . The team had lost 37 consecutive games prior to Gardi ' s arrival . In his first season , they again recorded a winless season with a 0 – 9 record . The following years he compiled 6 – 3 and 5 – 4 seasons , for a combined 11 – 16 record . In 1967 , he took over as head coach at Roselle Park High School . That team had not secured a winning season in the previous decade . In his first season Gardi ' s team compiled a 2 – 7 record , followed by 6 – 3 and 9 – 0 records . In 1969 , he coached the team to the New Jersey state championship . Maryland . In 1970 , Gardi returned to his alma mater to assume the roles of assistant head coach for the freshman team and recruiting coordinator . That year , he was responsible for recruiting future star quarterback , Bob Avellini . In 1972 , he was promoted to the offensive line coach . In 1973 , after new head coach Jerry Claiborne took over at Maryland , he retained Gardi and moved him to wide receivers coach . Professional football . In 1974 , Gardi began a tenure in the short - lived World Football League . He served as a running backs coach , special teams coach , and interim head coach for the Philadelphia Bell . In 1975 , he served as head coach for the Portland Thunder for three games before the league disbanded . Gardi then served from 1976 to 1984 as an assistant coach for the New York Jets in the NFL . In 1976 , he was special teams and tight ends coach under head coach Lou Holtz . Gardi served as special teams and linebackers coach from 1977 to 1980 . In 1981 and 1982 , he was the defensive coordinator under head coach Walt Michaels . In his first year running the defense , the Jets allowed 304 yards per game , a conference best , and posted 66 tackles , the highest in the NFL . The following season , the Jets participated in the AFC Championship Game , where they lost to the Miami Dolphins . In 1983 , Gardi was also named assistant head coach to Joe Walton . From 1985 to 1990 , Gardi served as an NFL assistant supervisor of officials , which included training and supervision of the league ' s officiating staff . Hofstra . He returned to coaching in 1990 when he took the head position at Hofstra University . In his first season , he led his team to a 10 – 0 regular season and advanced to the Division III playoffs , where they lost in the semifinals . In 1991 , Hofstra began the transition process to Division I - AA competition , and played six I - AA opponents and recorded a 8 – 2 record . The following season they played seven I - AA opponents and compiled a 4 – 6 record . The 1993 season was Hofstra ' s first as a full - fledged Division I team , and Gardi ' s team posted a 6 – 3 – 1 record . In 1994 , they finished 8 – 1 – 1 and were ranked 22nd in the nation . In 1995 , Hofstra lost in the first round of the playoffs to finish with a 10 – 2 record and a number - ten national ranking . In both 1998 and 1999 , Hofstra again advanced to the I - AA quarterfinals , and finished with a fifth and seventh ranking , respectively . Hofstra was an Atlantic 10 Conference co - championship and top - ten ranked team in 2001 . The 2005 season was Gardi ' s last and he finished his career at Hofstra having compiled a 119 – 62 – 2 record . Later life . He retired from coaching for good after the 2005 season . Gardi died on June 3 , 2010 from complications related to an earlier stroke . During his coaching career , he had helped develop future NFL players such as Wayne Chrebet , Lance Schulters , Marques Colston , Willie Colon , and Raheem Morris .