COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John’s University head football coach John Gagliardi will be honored as one of four 2010 “Professional Inductees” into the Sports Faith Hall of Fame on Sunday, Feb. 21. The ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Chicago Bears’ Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Ill., by Sports Faith International and its partners. A “Meet and Greet” hosted by Ave Maria University will precede the event at 11 a.m. on the campus of Lake Forest College.
Other 2010 Inductees include Bill Bidwill, owner of the National Football League's Arizona Cardinals, founder of Cardinals’ Charities, and trustee to the Pro Football Hall of Fame; Tom Monaghan, former owner of Major League Baseball’s Detroit Tigers, whose entrepreneurial accomplishments include founding Domino’s Pizza, The Thomas More Law Center, Legatus, and Ave Maria University; and Chicago Bears’ fullback Brian Piccolo (posthumously). Bidwill, Gagliardi and Monaghan will be present to accept the awards. Joy Piccolo-O’Connell will receive the award on behalf of her husband, Brian.
In 2008, Sports Faith International created the Sports Faith Hall of Fame to recognize and encourage outstanding professional athletes who are exemplary role models in Sport and in Faith. The 2008 Inductees included George Halas, Chris Godfrey and Danny Abramowicz. The 2009 Class included Wellington Mara, Dave Casper and Fr. John Smyth.
SJU ended the 2009 season with an 8-0 record in the MIAC and a 10-1 overall record. The Johnnies earned their MIAC-record 31st conference championship, the 27th under the direction of Gagliardi, and made their 24th postseason appearance (and 11th in the past 12 seasons). Gagliardi ended his record 61st season with a 471-126-11 (.784) career record and a 447-120-10 (.783) record in 57 seasons at SJU.