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| Union athletics file photo |
Union football coach John Audino has announced his “retirement” to pursue other coaching opportunities. The winningest coach in Union football history, Audino was 152-89 in his 24 seasons.
The Dutchmen participated in the Division III playoffs five times during Audino’s 24-season career with the last berth coming in 2006, the same year he and his staff won their second Liberty League championship and second Coaching Staff of the Year Award.
The Dutchmen were 0-10 this past season.
“I would like to thank the hundreds of dedicated young men that I have had the privilege to forge mutually beneficial relationships on and off the field as well as my family, the alumni, my staff, the fans, the media, and the Union College community who have supported our program throughout the years,” commented Audino.
Over the past 10 seasons, Audino coached a total of 145 Liberty League All-Academic student-athletes, including 26 in 2015. In that 10 season span, Union produced 146 Liberty League All Stars. In 2012, Noah Joseph was selected as a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy for the NCAA Division III player of the year, the fourth player coached by Audino to become a Gagliardi Trophy finalist. John Peters ’09, Tom Arcidiacono ’05 and Marco Lainez ’92 were also finalists in their senior seasons. A total of 21 First Team All-American honors have been bestowed to a Union football player, including 12 coached by Audino.
Audino was the offensive coordinator for three seasons at Union (1983-85) and was also the college’s head baseball coach. Audino, who received his undergraduate degree from Notre Dame in 1975, where he was a running back, completed his master’s at the University at Albany. While at Albany, Audino worked under head coach Bob Ford as the special team’s coordinator. Audino's overall head coaching record is 160-101, including two seasons as head coach at Kean.
Audino was the head coach at Kean, prior to taking the reins at Union. He served for four seasons (1986-89) as wide receiver and quarterback coach for Penn. Before Penn, Audino served as an assistant at Kentucky (1982) and Columbia (1977-81).
A national search will begin immediately.