COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Jerry Haugen '76 - a longtime fixture at Saint John's University on both the sideline and in the dugout - has announced his retirement after 48 seasons as the Johnnies' defensive coordinator.

"The past few seasons, with the landing gear released and a number of former players now coaching, it is a good time to let them take over," Haugen (HOH-gin) said. "The wheels have now touched down on the football piece. I am looking forward to coaching one sport after a combined 108 seasons."

During his time as a defensive coach, the Johnnie football program posted a 421-99-5 (.807) overall record and a 319-61-4 (.836) mark in the MIAC. He was named the NCAA Division III Defensive Coordinator of the Year by American Football Monthly when SJU won the last of its four national titles. Haugen (standing at left, coaching with John Gagliardi) was also part of a Division III national championship during his first season as an assistant in 1976.

In all, he was on the coaching staff for 25 MIAC championships and 29 postseason appearances. The 29 postseason trips consisted of 70 games – a 44-26 record – which accounts for nearly seven additional seasons in playoff contests alone.

SJU allowed 14.6 points per game and recorded 72 shutouts – 13.7 percent – during his tenure. Since 1978, his defense finished in the top two of the MIAC in total defense 26 times, including 16 of the past 21 seasons, and in scoring defense 31 times, including 23 of the past 27 seasons.

"There are very few football coaches in the country who have had the kind of impact that Jerry Haugen has had on our program," SJU head football coach Gary Fasching '81 said. "He served our program for 48 years as an assistant coach, most of those as our defensive coordinator. Jerry coordinated defenses that were always at the top of the conference and in many cases, were tops in the country. His defenses were always disciplined, made big plays and were fierce tacklers. 

"Jerry will go down as one of the most accomplished defensive coordinators in college football history. Our football program applauds him on 48 years of outstanding coaching."

The upcoming 2025 baseball season will be the 48th for Haugen as head coach. He has an 891-720-5 (.553) career record, which places him fifth on Division III's winningest active coaches win list, as well as a 502-371 mark in MIAC play. Haugen has directed the SJU baseball program to four MIAC playoff titles, three regular-season championships and 14 consecutive appearances in the MIAC Tournament (16 overall).

Haugen Field, the artificial grass playing surface within SJU's Becker Park, was dedicated in April 2017.
 
SJU tied for second in the MIAC with a 13-7 record (24-16 overall) and made its 14th-consecutive appearance in the MIAC Tournament in 2024. Haugen recorded his 500th MIAC win April 27 in his team's doubleheader sweep of St. Scholastica.
 
In addition to baseball and football, Haugen also served as an assistant basketball coach from 1981-90 during which the Johnnies won two MIAC titles and made six national tournament appearances. He also served as SJU's head hockey coach from 1977 to 1981.
 
All told, Haugen has collected 37 MIAC championships and 43 national tournament appearances over 52 years as a student-athlete and coach.
 
As a student-athlete at SJU, Haugen (right) was a four-year starter in baseball and football, played on three MIAC championship teams and gained All-MIAC honors as a defensive back in 1975. He ranks second on the school's career interception list with 15 (first place without postseason games).