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Funeral mass Monday for John Gagliardi, legendary St. John's coach

The Mass of Christian Burial for the all-time victory leader in college football will be at 11 a.m. at the St. John's Abbey Church. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

WATCH: Live coverage of the funeral mass of legendary coach John Gagliardi

Minnesotans, former players and college football fans from across the nation streamed into Collegeville Monday morning to pay final respects to legendary St. John's University football coach John Gagliardi.

The Mass of Christian Burial for the all-time victory leader in college football was at 11 a.m. at the St. John’s Abbey Church. Interment was in the parish cemetery.

"Peggy said to him, 'Sometimes I think you love football more than you love me.' John replied, 'Well, I do love football more than I love you, but I want you to know something. I love you more than I love basketball,'" remembered Father Timothy Backous at the ceremony.

Gagliardi knew a good joke, just like he knew football.

The winningest coach in college history, although his family remembers his love for amusement parks and a good glass of water.

"I was so blessed, mom, before he died I was able to give him some water," said Gagliardi's son, Jim, at the funeral. "It was a privilege. Thank you."

Gagliardi's most famous football player, former White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, shared a lesson he learned from John in 1992.

"He called me into his office on Monday morning and he said, 'You know, you really embarrassed yourself on Saturday.' And it was a reminder from John that he expected a degree of decorum and respect."

Gagliardi, age 91, died Oct. 7 at St. Cloud Hospital surrounded by his family.

Gagliardi was St. John’s head football coach for 60 years. In 64 years of coaching college football he won 489 games, the most all-time in any division. Gagliardi won four national championships with the Johnnies, in 1963, ’65, ’76 and 2003. St. John’s was the national runner-up in 2000. He won 30 conference championships, including 27 at St. John’s. During that time, he also coached 113 All-Americans.

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