[3] He enrolled at the University of Alabama in 2000 and was a walk-on member of their football team, playing placekicker and holder.
[11] Giardina was named the head coach at Albany State, an NCAA Division II program, in 2017.
[12] In his first season as head coach, he led them to a 6–4 record, including a win in the Fountain City Classic.
[15] After not playing in 2020,[16] Albany State won ten games in 2021, including the conference championship, reaching the playoffs where they lost to West Georgia.
[17][18] After a 7–3 record in 2022,[19] Giardina left Albany State to be named head coach at Charleston Southern.