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Football coach Caruso, St. Thomas newest idol

By Nicolas Hallett 11/27/2012

University of St. Thomas football coach Glenn Caruso can move buildings with his bare hands, or so legend has it. Its not exactly comic book material, but the story is that the coach was able to influence the location of the schools new $66 million campus addition, the Anderson Student Center, moving it 50 feet away from its original planned site. Caruso did so because he wanted the buildings windows to overlook the teams home field, OShaughnessy Stadium, from the most central vantage point. Thats what I was told, freshman running back Brenton Braddock said. That is amazing. The new student center, opened in January 2012, gives spectators an unobstructed position to view the nationally ranked powerhouse built by Caruso. Since arriving at St. Thomas in 2008, Carusos exploits on the football field have been impressive. The Tommies had just finished a 2-8 season before he took over, and hadnt won consecutive MIAC titles in 59 years. Under Caruso, St. Thomas has won three MIAC titles, in a row. As for the regular season, losing is no longer an option, as the team has won 34 straight conference games and just finished its third undefeated season in succession. Another current streak under Caruso from

Greenwich, Conn, is reaching the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament, something the countrys No. 3-ranked Tommies have done four out of Carusos five seasons in charge. The teams next chapter comes Saturday, when St. Thomas faces Hobart (N.Y.) in the NCAA quarterfinals. Everyone says, Could you have imagined this in your wildest dreams? And I kind of look at them and say, Yeah, I absolutely could. Caruso said. There was no question in my mind that if we did things right that this is where we would be. Its not a surprise at all. Accolades and setting records are nothing new to Caruso, 38, who began coaching as a graduate assistant at Ithaca (N.Y.). The same Division III school where he played four seasons on the offensive line. From there Caruso moved on to then-Division II North Dakota State as an offensive assistant. In 2002 he became the offensive coordinator at the age of 28. At the University of South Dakota in 2004 he was again an offensive coordinator and led an offense that set 117 school records. The following season the Coyotes finished 9-2 while ranking first nationally in Division II for total offense and scoring. Caruso has twice won the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year award. In 2011, at age 36 he was the youngest man to ever win the award, and was the first repeat winner in 2012. He is also in line for another distinction, the coach with the most wins in St. Thomas 104-year football history. In second place with 55 career victories, Caruso trails Frank Deig by one game. Deig, the last Tommies coach to win back-to-back conference championships, won 56 games in 11 years between 1946-1957.

There are a lot of people who are going to point and say thats a great job coaching, but when I got here, the University of St. Thomas was ready to have a successful football program, Caruso said. I think there are a lot of coaches that could have come in and done what weve done. Other than the legendary John Gagliardi of St. Johns University, Augsburgs Frank Haege is the last MIAC coach to defeat Caruso. The game in 2008 was decided by a last-minute field goal. St. Thomas has won the last four meetings against the Auggies by a combined margin of 144-34. They are dominating the MIAC. They are the best team you are going to play typically, Haege said. Its kind of the right guy at the right time, with the right players and everything just meshes. Caruso says the teams family mantra and the development of their mental fortitude, rather than their skill, are what brings the team success on the field. Winning games is a byproduct of developing mentally tough people, Caruso said. I really believe that we have developed as mentally tough a team as you will ever see. As for his players, Caruso doesnt use the word team all that often, he much prefers a different word -- family. The word is imprinted -- (F.A.M.I.L.Y.) -- on bracelets Caruso and the team wear. It is also an acronym: Forget About Me, I Love You.

The term family is one that is thrown around way too much in sports. But I really believe what we have here is a very strong family, he said. Thats probably our biggest trophy so to speak, is putting those types of kids out into the community. Kids like Braddock, who began the season as the third-string tailback, and now leads the Tommies in rushing with 914 yards. If they see me as a second stringer, third stringer or a scout team guy, Im going to do whatever it takes to help out this team and help out this family, Braddock, a Mahtomedi native, said. Its not just about football for coach. Its about making us better men; the best husbands we can be, the best fathers we can be, the best people in society we can be. On Nov. 23, speaking to the Pioneer Press, Braddock said: He is the epitome of what you want to become. We idolize him. The players agree and the numbers indicate that St. Thomas has found a man worthy of building a football program around. The question that remains is this: Will he stay? And for how long? In 16 years of coaching Caruso has been a part of six different collegiate programs. He wouldnt comment as to where, but said he gets multiple offers to coach at other schools every year. There a lot of people out there who think bigger levels are better and for some that might be, he said. If I was supposed to be at that level I will feel that and sense that. Caruso resides in St. Paul with his wife Rachael and their three children. He said they wanted to raise them in the Upper Midwest and choosing St. Thomas was a family decision.

Previous coaching stops, South Dakota and North Dakota State, have subsequently become Division I programs. If a situation arose I would have to sit down with my wife and talk about what the best thing is for our family, Caruso said. At the end of the day, at least for right now, this is the right place for our family.
Multimedia:

University of St. Thomas under Glenn Caruso

Year 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total Record (Overall) 7-3 11-2 12-1 13-1 12-0 55-7 Result

L, NCAA Quarterfinal L, NCAA Quarterfinal L, NCAA Semifinal ?

St. Thomas coach Glenn Carusos post-game talk after the Tommies defeated the Johnnies, 43-21, Sept. 15. (Photo credit: Nicolas Hallett)