By By Nick Pipitone
Head football coach Joe Gardi announced his retirement on Monday after leading the Pride for 16 years. In his tenure, Gardi amassed a 114-56-2 record (.654 winning percentage), the second highest in the program’s history.
This Saturday he will coach possibly his last game for the Pride-barring a I-AA playoff berth-against the University of Massachusetts at 1 p.m. at Shuart Stadium.
“After reflecting on my coaching career and talking with my family this summer, it became clear that this year was the right time to retire,” Gardi said in a University press release this Monday. “The experience as head coach for this University has been fulfilling beyond expectations, but I look forward to turning to the next chapter in my life.”
The coach stated that his main reason for retiring was to be able him to spend more time with his family. After coaching for over three decades at both the high school, collegiate and pro level, Gardi will now have that time.
“I feel like I deserve the chance to spend time with my family, which is tough with the responsibilities and physical demands of being a head coach at this level,” he said.
Since 1990, Gardi has seen his team advance from division III to I-AA while garnering some of the program’s proudest achievements and coaching a handful of future professional players, such as Lance Schulters, Charlie Adams and Wayne Chrebet.
In his career, he has led the Pride to three double-digit winning seasons and five I-AA playoff appearances. He spent 14 years working in the NFL as an assistant coach for the New York Jets and assistant supervisor for NFL officials before becoming the Pride’s head coach. This season was his 31st in coaching at any level.
“We have had some exciting teams to watch, going back to my first year in 1990,” he said, referring to his years with the Pride. “I have demanded so much of my staff and players over the years. I want to thank all those people that have built the Pride football program to what it is today.”
However, Gardi’s retirement does not come as a surprise. While enjoying much success early in his tenure, his teams have had a combined 19-25 record the past five seasons, including this year and have failed to reach the postseason since 2001. This year will mark the first season in five years the Pride will finish with a winning record.
In addition, fans and media alike have clamored over Gardi’s tenuous position heading into the off-season. Going into this year, the head coach was not offered a contract extension even though it was well known that his deal ran out at the end of the 2005 season.
Conversely, men’s basketball head coach Tom Pecora was re-signed to a five-year deal for an undisclosed amount over the summer, which was highly publicized by athletic and University officials. Officials denied talking about Gardi’s status during the season.
In a Newsday article this past September, Gardi said “he did not need a contract” and later compared his situation to Penn State’s Joe Paterno and Florida State’s Bobby Bowden. When asked about his future with the program two weeks ago, Gardi replied that “it is his own personal business and should not be reported.” The coach gave strict demands to coaches and players to not talk about his status.
The vacancy left by Gardi’s retirement will be a hotly-debated topic this off-season for a program still looking to restore its prominence from the early and mid-90s. It’s too early to tell who the leading candidates are for the job.