Mid States
[Football] Magistrelli to step down as head football coach at St. Ambrose
Additional coverage:Magistrelli leaves lasting legacy at St. Ambrose, on and off the field – Tom Johnston/Quad-City TimesPhotos: Mike Magistrelli resigns as head football coach at St. Ambrose University – Meg McLaughlin/Quad-City TimesWatch Now: Mike Magistrelli speaks during a press conference to announce his resignation – Quad-City TimesWatch Now: St. Ambrose University Athletic Director Mike Holmes speaks during the press conference – Quad-City TimesSportscast – Monday, Nov. 29th – Matt Randazzo/WQAD-TV (2:15 mark)Mike Magistrelli is leaving SAU Football after 15 seasons – Dustin Nolan and Jay Kidwell/WHBF-TVMike Magistrelli announced he is stepping down as head football coach at St. Ambrose University effective Dec. 31, 2021. Magistrelli, the program's all-time leader in career victories, is pursuing professional opportunities outside coaching.The longest-tenured head football coach in school history, Magistrelli took the reins of the Fighting Bees football program in 2007 and led the team to Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) Midwest League championships in 2007, 2008 and 2012. Those three teams, along with his 2013 squad, qualified for the NAIA National Playoffs.A two-time MSFA Midwest League Coach of the Year, Magistrelli compiled an overall record of 90-63 over his 15 seasons at the helm. His teams were 58-33 in conference play. Magistrelli led the Bees to a .500 record or better in 11 seasons and had six campaigns of at least seven wins. He coached 14 NAIA All-Americans and 182 all-conference selections. Along with his success on the field, Magistrelli oversaw the program's success in the classroom. The Fighting Bees had a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 in each of the last seven years. His teams had the highest GPA among all NAIA football programs in both 2014 and 2015. A two-time all-conference quarterback at Coe College, Magistrelli got his coaching start as a graduate assistant at St. Ambrose from 1997-99. He returned to Coe in 1999, first as a quarterback coach, then as a defensive coordinator, before coming back to St. Ambrose in 2004 as the Bees' defensive coordinator under head coach Todd Sturdy. Magistrelli replaced Sturdy as head coach in 2007.Magistrelli earned his Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Coe in 1997 and his Master's in Post-Secondary Disability Services from St. Ambrose in 1999.A search for a new head coach will begin immediately.Mike Magistrelli by the numbers2 – MSFA Midwest League Coach of the Year awards (2007, 2012)2 – times the program led the NAIA in cumulative GPA (2014 with a 3.26 and 2015 with a 3.22)3 – MSFA Midwest League conference championships (2007, 2008, 2012)4 – NAIA National Playoff appearances (2007, 2008, 2012, 2013)7 – consecutive years program had a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better11 – seasons finishing at or above .50014 – NAIA All-Americans, including 6 first-team selections15 – seasons as head coach at St. Ambrose90 – career victories at St. Ambrose111 – NAIA Scholar-Athletes (does not include 2021)182 – All-MSFA selections, includes 63 first-team selections223 – Academic all-conference selections (does not include 2021)