Joe Gardi
- June 3, 2010
- 71 years
- stroke
About Joe Gardi
Joe Gardi, 71, American football coach, stroke.
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Full Biography
|Joseph T. Gardi (March 2, 1939 – June 2, 2010) was an American football coach. He served as the head football coach at Hofstra University for 16 seasons, from 1990 to 2005, compiling a record of 119–62–2. He is the father of NFL executive Dave Gardi.
Early life
Gardi was raised 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 sacks, 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 an 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
Gardi was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame on Long Island in the Football and Coaches Categories with the Class of 2000. 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.
Head coaching record
College
Personal life
His son Dave Gardi is an executive with the Tennessee Titans. He previously played college football as a quarterback for the Brown Bears and worked as a National Football League (NFL) administrator and the Washington Commanders as a senior vice president of football initiatives.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Gardi
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
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- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Joe Gardi's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Joseph T. Gardi born?
- A.June 3, 1940
- B.March 2, 1939correct
- C.March 2, 1940
- D.June 2, 1939
Joseph T. Gardi was born on March 2, 1939.
Source: early life section
2.In which city was Joseph T. Gardi raised?
- A.Harrison, New Jerseycorrect
- B.Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- C.Summit, New Jersey
- D.Portland, Oregon
Joseph T. Gardi was raised in Harrison, New Jersey.
Source: early life section
3.What degree did Joseph T. Gardi earn from the University of Maryland?
- A.Bachelor of Arts in Coaching
- B.Master of Science in Sports Management
- C.Bachelor of Science in business administrationcorrect
- D.Bachelor of Science in Physical Education
Joseph T. Gardi graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration.
Source: early life section
4.Before his college career, for which high school did Joseph T. Gardi play football?
- A.Maryland High School
- B.Harrison High Schoolcorrect
- C.Summit High School
- D.Roselle Park High School
Joseph T. Gardi attended Harrison High School in Harrison, New Jersey.
Source: early life section
5.Which team did Joseph T. Gardi lead to a state championship in 1969?
- A.Hofstra University
- B.Roselle Park High Schoolcorrect
- C.Oratory Preparatory School
- D.Philadelphia Bell
In 1969, Joseph T. Gardi coached the Roselle Park High School team to the New Jersey state championship.
Source: coaching career high school section
6.Whom did Joseph T. Gardi recruit to the University of Maryland in 1970?
- A.Walt Michaels
- B.Wayne Chrebet
- C.Lou Holtz
- D.Bob Avellinicorrect
While serving as recruiting coordinator at the University of Maryland in 1970, Joseph T. Gardi was responsible for recruiting Bob Avellini.
Source: coaching career Maryland section
7.Which professional football team did Joseph T. Gardi coach for three games in 1975?
- A.Philadelphia Bell
- B.Portland Thundercorrect
- C.New York Jets
- D.Buffalo Bills
In 1975, Joseph T. Gardi served as head coach for the Portland Thunder for three games.
Source: coaching career professional football section
8.During his time as defensive coordinator for the New York Jets, how many sacks did the team record in 1981?
- A.66correct
- B.119
- C.304
- D.50
In 1981, the New York Jets posted 66 sacks while Joseph T. Gardi was the defensive coordinator.
Source: coaching career professional football section
9.What role did Joseph T. Gardi perform from 1985 to 1990?
- A.College athletic director
- B.Wide receivers coach
- C.NFL head coach
- D.Assistant supervisor of officialscorrect
From 1985 to 1990, Joseph T. Gardi served as an NFL assistant supervisor of officials.
Source: coaching career professional football section
10.How many seasons did Joseph T. Gardi serve as head coach at Hofstra University?
- A.20
- B.12
- C.10
- D.16correct
Joseph T. Gardi served as the head football coach at Hofstra University for 16 seasons, from 1990 to 2005.
Source: biography summary section
11.What was Joseph T. Gardi's final head coaching record at Hofstra University?
- A.10–0–0
- B.11–16–0
- C.10–2–0
- D.119–62–2correct
Joseph T. Gardi finished his career at Hofstra University having compiled a 119–62–2 record.
Source: coaching career Hofstra section
12.In what year was Joseph T. Gardi inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame?
- A.1990
- B.2005
- C.2010
- D.2000correct
Joseph T. Gardi was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame on Long Island with the Class of 2000.
Source: later life section
13.What was the cause of Joseph T. Gardi's death?
- A.Complications from an injury
- B.Old age
- C.Complications from a strokecorrect
- D.Heart failure
Joseph T. Gardi died on June 3, 2010, from complications related to an earlier stroke.
Source: later life section
14.Which of these individuals was a football player developed during Joseph T. Gardi's coaching career?
- A.Marques Colstoncorrect
- B.Jerry Claiborne
- C.Joe Walton
- D.Lou Holtz
Joseph T. Gardi helped develop several NFL players, including Marques Colston.
Source: later life section
15.What is the name of Joseph T. Gardi's son who is an NFL executive?
- A.Dave Gardicorrect
- B.Joe Gardi
- C.Wayne Gardi
- D.Bob Gardi
Joseph T. Gardi is the father of NFL executive Dave Gardi.
Source: biography summary section
16.Which NFL head coach did Joseph T. Gardi serve under at the New York Jets in 1976?
- A.Lou Holtzcorrect
- B.Joe Walton
- C.Jerry Claiborne
- D.Walt Michaels
In 1976, Joseph T. Gardi was a special teams and tight ends coach under New York Jets head coach Lou Holtz.
Source: coaching career professional football section
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