Recieved his master's degree from Illinois State in 1963 ... member of the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Hall of Fame after a successful coaching career ... founded the wrestling program at Metamora High School... started his 13 year coaching stint at University High in 1964 ... produced six individual IHSA state champions and three top-three finishes in the IHSA Class A State Meet, plus three more in the top-ten ... later took his coaching career to Illinois State, where he coached 15 years and saw 24 NCAA qualifiers representing Illinois State at 10 NCAA championship meets, including three All-Americans ... in addition to coaching wrestling, Girardi was a professor in the Illinois State Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance...Girardi died in 1994 at the age of 65.