HOFSTRA FOOTBALL, 2005 Gardi and His Wife, Audrey, Have Two Grown Children and Four Grandchildren
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Both his win total and .654 winning percentage rank second in Hofstra football coaching history. "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. “I have worked tirelessly for 16 years to take this football program to a level of excellence in I-AA. I feel like I deserve the chance to enjoy time with my family, which is tough to do with the responsibilities and physical demands of being a head coach at this level.” HOFSTRA FOOTBALL, 2005 Gardi and his wife, Audrey, have two grown children and four grandchildren. He states family is a key factor in his GAME 11: decision to retire. “When I was coaching for the Jets, I HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY (6-4, 4-3) missed out on a lot of opportunities to watch my children vs grow up. Now I have the chance to enjoy my #7 UNIVERSITY of MASSACHUSETTS grandchildren and be there to watch them grow up. The (7-3, 6-1) experience as Head Coach of this University has been Saturday, November 19, 2005 – 1 p.m. fulfilling beyond expectations, but I look forward to James M. Shuart Stadium –Hempstead, NY turning to the next chapter in my life." Under Gardi's Television: RNN (Regional News Network), Tape guidance, Hofstra Delay, Sunday, November 20 at 3 p.m. made the jump from Radio: WRHU-FM (88.7) Pregame show at 12:30 p.m. NCAA Division III in Internet: www.WRHU.org 1990 to I-AA in 1994. Since then, the Pride 2005 HOFSTRA SCHEDULE has become a Sept. 10 at Albany (TW Cable) 36-7 W nationally recognized Sept. 17 STONY BROOK (RNN) 55-0 W I-AA program and has Sept. 24 at #9 Furman 41-44 L 2OT earned five NCAA I- Oct. 1 #6 JAMES MADISON* (MSG) 10-42 L AA championship bids Oct. 8 at #13 Delaware* (A10&FSNY) 10-6 W in the last 10 seasons. Oct. 15 MAINE* + (RNN) 44-0 W Over the past 16 Oct. 22 at Richmond* 37-43 L 2OT years, more than 90 Oct. 29 at Rhode Island* 38-24 W school records, seven Nov. 5 #2 NEW HAMPSHIRE* 26-29 L ECAC marks, and Nov. 12 at Northeastern* 20-17 W four NCAA records Nov. 19 #5 MASSACHUSETTS* 1:00 p.m. have either been * - Atlantic 10 Game + - Homecoming • All times ET topped or tied by the Pride. Gardi has also recorded 10 winning seasons during his Pride tenure. INFORMATION CONTACTS: Hofstra - Jim Sheehan, Associate Director of Athletics- Gardi came to Hofstra after five years (1985-90) as Communications; (516) 463-6764 - O; (516) 523-6692 - assistant supervisor of officials for the National Football Cell; (516) 463-5033 - Fax League. His duties in the League office included the evaluation, recruitment and training of college officials Massachusetts – Jason Yellin, Assistant Athletic for positions in the professional ranks. Director/Media Relations; (413) 577-3061- O; (413) 545- 1556- Fax Gardi recorded the third undefeated regular season in school history in his first year at Hofstra in 1990. He also James M. Shuart Stadium Press Box - (516) 463-5274 recorded the school's first-ever NCAA playoff victories, an NCAA East Regional championship and a berth in the FAREWELL, COACH GARDI: Hofstra University Head national semifinals in 1990. Under his guidance the team Football Coach Joe Gardi, who has directed the Pride posted eight victories in 13 I-AA games in 1991 and program since 1990, announced last Monday that he will 1992, as the Pride prepared for the move to I-AA. retire at the conclusion of the 2005 season. Gardi has Hofstra recorded a 6-3-1 mark in 1993, and an 8-1-1 recorded a 118-62-2 record in his 16 seasons at Hofstra. record and a 22nd-place national ranking in 1994, the Pride’s first official season as a I-AA member. offense (2), punt returns (3), passing offense (4), scoring In 1995 Gardi directed the Dutchmen to a 10-1-0 regular offense (5) and turnover margin (10). season (losing only to I-AA national finalist Marshall, 30- 28), as well as to the I-AA playoffs and Hofstra's first- From 1976 through 1984, Gardi served as an assistant ever I-AA top 10 national ranking−finishing ninth at the coach with the Jets under three head coaches. He end of the regular season. In the process, Hofstra served as special teams/tight ends coach under Lou ranked in the top 10 in the country in seven team Holtz in 1976; special teams/linebackers coach from statistical categories. For his efforts, Gardi received 1977 to 1980 and defensive coordinator in 1981 and numerous postseason coaching honors, including the 1982 under Walt Michaels; and assistant head Scotty Whitelaw Award from the Metropolitan Football coach/defensive coordinator under Joe Walton in 1983 Writers Association as the ECAC I-AA Coach of the and 1984. In 1981 the Jets formed the best defensive Year. Gardi also became the first recipient of the Vince unit in the American Football Conference, allowing just Lombardi College Coach of the Year Award from the 304 yards per game, while leading the NFL with 66 Lombardi Foundation. The National Football Foundation sacks. In the strike-shortened 1982 season, the Jets and College Hall of Fame named Gardi the Division I-AA advanced to the AFC Championship game before Coach of the Year, and the National Football League dropping a 14-0 decision to Miami, despite holding the Players Association selected him its I-AA College Coach Dolphins to just 197 yards in the contest. of the Year. Gardi also received the Long Island Sports Commission’s Good Guy Award. A year later Hofstra HOFSTRA COACHING STAFF: The Pride lost just one was ranked in the top 10 in four team statistical assistant coach, special teams assistant Alberto Van der categories, including rushing defense, total defense and Mije, from last year’s staff. The 2005 Pride football scoring defense. coaching staff is as follows: In 1997 Hofstra posted a 9-2 regular season record, was Coach Pos. HU Yr. Overall Yr. ranked 14th in the country, received its second I-AA Greg Gigantino Def. Coord. 13 28 playoff bid, and ranked second in passing offense, Warren Ruggiero Off. Coord. 6 18 eighth in total offense and ninth in scoring offense. Bob McIntyre Linebackers 17 17 Individually, five Flying Dutchmen placed in the top 10 of Adam Brown DL & ST 5 5 four categories. In 1998 the Flying Dutchmen posted an Carlton Goff RB 3 10 8-3 record, attained their then highest-ever I-AA ranking Damian Wroblewski Off. Line 2 7 at fifth in the nation, and were ranked fifth in scoring Jaime Elizondo Receivers 2 6 offense, 10th in turnover margin, 11th in total offense Chip Garber Def. Backs 2 25 and 12th in kickoff return average in I-AA. Dennis Mikula Tight Ends 2 2 Dassin Blackwell Def. Asst. 1 6 Hofstra equaled its best I-AA regular season record with a 10-1 mark in 1999 and was ranked as high as fourth in HOFSTRA- the country. The Pride received their third NCAA I-AA MASSACHUSETTS Championship bid, advanced to the quarterfinals, SERIES: Saturday's finished the year with an 11-2 overall record and game is the ninth captured the Lambert Cup as the top I-AA program in meeting between Hofstra the East. Gardi was also a finalist for the Eddie and Massachusetts in a Robinson Award as I-AA Coach of the Year. series that started in 1997. The Pride holds a In 2000 Hofstra recorded an 8-3 regular season record 5-3-0 series lead. The and was ranked as high as fourth in the country in I-AA. two teams met last year in Amherst with the Minutemen The Pride received their fourth I-AA Playoff bid and posting a 40-30 victory over the Pride. Hofstra is 1-1 defeated Furman on the road in the opening round against Massachusetts on Long Island. The two teams before losing to eventual national champions Georgia have split the four meetings since the Pride joined the Southern in the quarterfinals. Hofstra finished the year 9- Atlantic 10 in 2001. The series history is as follows: 4 and was ranked seventh in the final I-AA poll by The Sports Network. Year Winner (Loc.) Score 1997 Hofstra (A) 51-13 In 2001 Hofstra ended its I-AA independent status by 1998 Massachusetts (H) 35-40 joining the Atlantic 10 Football Conference. Gardi 1999 Hofstra (A) 27-14 directed the Pride to a 9-2 regular season record 2000 Hofstra (A) 51-36 including a 7-2 conference mark, the A10's co- 2001 Hofstra (H) 36-6 championship, the conference automatic bid to the 2002 Hofstra (A) 31-28 NCAA I-AA Playoffs and a Top 10 final national ranking. 2003 Massachusetts (A) 22-27 As a team, Hofstra ranked in the top 10 in I-AA in total 2004 Massachusetts (A) 30-40 THE LAST HOFSTRA-MASSACHUSETTS GAME: 6:08 in the 13-play, 58-yard drive. Day directed the drive November 20, 2005 at Massachusetts: Hofstra and hit freshman Chris Hopkins for his first collegiate receiver Devale Ellis broke the school record with 16 reception, a 4-yard touchdown grab to give UMass a 20- receptions, but Minutemen quarterback Tim Day 14 lead with 8:52 to play in the third. Later in the quarter completed 22-of-36 passes for 344 yards and four after Hofstra was pinned back on its own 4-yard line and touchdowns to lead Massachusetts to a 40-30 Atlantic forced to punt, Massachusetts took over on the Hofstra 10 victory over Hofstra at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.