Johnny Kovatch

Apr 21, 2026 - 09:29
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Johnny Kovatch

+ Category:20th-century American sportsmen

← Previous revision Revision as of 03:58, 21 April 2026
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Kovatch began his coaching career in 1939 when he was hired as an assistant football coach at [[Owosso High School]] in [[Owosso, Michigan]].{{cite news|author = |title = Kovatch Engaged As Owosso Coach|url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-saginaw-news/154977379/|newspaper = [[The Saginaw News]]|date = April 28, 1939|page = 17|access-date = September 9, 2024|via = [[Newspapers.com]] {{Open access}} }} He resigned from his post at Owosso the next year and returned to Northwestern in the summer of 1940 to complete work towards a master's degree.{{cite news|author = |title = Young's Yarns|url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph/154977699/|newspaper = [[The Pantagraph|The Daily Pantagraph]]|publisher = [[Lee Enterprises]]|date = July 9, 1940|page = 10|access-date = September 9, 2024|via = [[Newspapers.com]] {{Open access}} }} That fall, he went to [[Saginaw High School]] in [[Saginaw, Michigan]] to teach biology and served as an assistant football coach.{{cite news|author = |title = What Would a College All-Star Camp Be Like Without Kovatch|url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/154977856/|newspaper = [[Chicago Tribune]]|publisher = [[Tribune Publishing]]|date = August 11, 1940|page =2, part 2|access-date = September 9, 2024|via = [[Newspapers.com]] {{Open access}} }}
Kovatch began his coaching career in 1939 when he was hired as an assistant football coach at [[Owosso High School]] in [[Owosso, Michigan]].{{cite news|author = |title = Kovatch Engaged As Owosso Coach|url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-saginaw-news/154977379/|newspaper = [[The Saginaw News]]|date = April 28, 1939|page = 17|access-date = September 9, 2024|via = [[Newspapers.com]] {{Open access}} }} He resigned from his post at Owosso the next year and returned to Northwestern in the summer of 1940 to complete work towards a master's degree.{{cite news|author = |title = Young's Yarns|url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph/154977699/|newspaper = [[The Pantagraph|The Daily Pantagraph]]|publisher = [[Lee Enterprises]]|date = July 9, 1940|page = 10|access-date = September 9, 2024|via = [[Newspapers.com]] {{Open access}} }} That fall, he went to [[Saginaw High School]] in [[Saginaw, Michigan]] to teach biology and served as an assistant football coach.{{cite news|author = |title = What Would a College All-Star Camp Be Like Without Kovatch|url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/154977856/|newspaper = [[Chicago Tribune]]|publisher = [[Tribune Publishing]]|date = August 11, 1940|page =2, part 2|access-date = September 9, 2024|via = [[Newspapers.com]] {{Open access}} }}


In 1941, Kovatch was hired as the line coach for the football team at [[Illinois Wesleyan University]] to assist his former teammate at Northwestern, [[Don Heap]], who was the school's head football coach. He succeeded [[Bob Voigts]].{{cite news|author = |title = John Kovatch New Wesleyan Line Coach|url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph/154978076/|newspaper = [[The Pantagraph|The Daily Pantagraph]]|publisher = [[Lee Enterprises]]|date = March 12, 1941|page = 11|access-date = September 9, 2024|via = [[Newspapers.com]] {{Open access}} }} Kovatch also coached [[track and field|track]] and [[baseball]] at Illinois Wesleyan. In January 1942, he succeeded Heap, who joined [[United States Navy Reserve]], as head football coach and [[athletic director]].{{cite news|last = Overaker|first = Bob|title = Kovatch Named Football Coach At Illinois Wesleyan|url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune/154928704/|newspaper = [[South Bend Tribune]]|publisher = [[Gannett]]|date=January 22, 1942|page = 8|access-date = September 9, 2024|via = [[Newspapers.com]] {{Open access}} }} In April of that year, however, Kovatch left Illinois Wesleyan to become ends coach at [[Indiana University Bloomington|Indiana University]], assisting head football coach [[Bo McMillin]].{{cite news|author = |title = John Kovatch to Coach Ends for Bo McMillian|url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-news/154928978/|newspaper = [[Indianapolis News]]|date = April 7, 1942|page = 10|access-date = September 9, 2024|via = [[Newspapers.com]] {{Open access}} }} In April 1944, he was called to serve in the [[United States Army]] during [[World War II]].{{cite news|title = Kovatch, Indiana Aide, Enters Army Apr. 21|newspaper = [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|Milwaukee Journal]]|page = 2|publisher = [[Journal Communications]]|date = April 11, 1944|url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gY9SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FiMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4178,4480074&dq=kovatch+football+cleveland&hl=en|accessdate = June 2, 2013|archive-date = May 13, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160513113338/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gY9SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FiMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4178%2C4480074&dq=kovatch%20football%20cleveland&hl=en|url-status = dead}}
In 1941, Kovatch was hired as the line coach for the football team at [[Illinois Wesleyan University]] to assist his former teammate at Northwestern, [[Don Heap]], who was the school's head football coach. He succeeded [[Bob Voigts]].{{cite news|author = |title = John Kovatch New Wesleyan Line Coach|url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph/154978076/|newspaper = [[The Pantagraph|The Daily Pantagraph]]|publisher = [[Lee Enterprises]]|date = March 12, 1941|page = 11|access-date = September 9, 2024|via = [[Newspapers.com]] {{Open access}} }} Kovatch also coached [[track and field|track]] and [[baseball]] at Illinois Wesleyan. In January 1942, he succeeded Heap, who joined [[United States Navy Reserve]], as head football coach and [[athletic director]].{{cite news|last = Overaker|first = Bob|title = Kovatch Named Football Coach At Illinois Wesleyan|url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune/154928704/|newspaper = [[South Bend Tribune]]|publisher = [[Gannett]]|date=January 22, 1942|page = 8|access-date = September 9, 2024|via = [[Newspapers.com]] {{Open access}} }} In April of that year, however, Kovatch left Illinois Wesleyan to become ends coach at [[Indiana University Bloomington|Indiana University]], assisting head football coach [[Bo McMillin]].{{cite news|author = |title = John Kovatch to Coach Ends for Bo McMillian|url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-news/154928978/|newspaper = [[Indianapolis News]]|date = April 7, 1942|page = 10|access-date = September 9, 2024|via = [[Newspapers.com]] {{Open access}} }} In April 1944, he was called to serve in the [[United States Army]] during [[World War II]].{{cite news|title = Kovatch, Indiana Aide, Enters Army Apr. 21|newspaper = [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|Milwaukee Journal]]|page = 2|publisher = [[Journal Communications]]|date = April 11, 1944|url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gY9SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FiMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4178,4480074&dq=kovatch+football+cleveland&hl=en|accessdate = June 2, 2013|archive-date = May 13, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160513113338/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gY9SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FiMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4178%2C4480074&dq=kovatch%20football%20cleveland&hl=en|url-status = dead}}


Kovatch stayed at Indiana until March 1947, when he joined the coaching staff of his alma mater, [[Northwestern University]]. He remained there until February 1955 and was hired as an end coach at the [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln|University of Nebraska]] the following month.{{cite news|title = Sports in Brief|newspaper = [[The Christian Science Monitor]]|page = 19|date = March 1, 1955}} Less than a year later, in January 1956, he joined the staff at the [[University of Kansas]].{{cite news|author = |title = John Kovatch Named Kansas Grid Coach|url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant/154929377/|newspaper = [[Hartford Courant]]|publisher = [[Tribune Publishing]]|agency = [[United Press International|United Press]]|date = January 29, 1956|page = 6, part IV|access-date = September 9, 2024|via = [[Newspapers.com]] {{Open access}} }}
Kovatch stayed at Indiana until March 1947, when he joined the coaching staff of his alma mater, [[Northwestern University]]. He remained there until February 1955 and was hired as an end coach at the [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln|University of Nebraska]] the following month.{{cite news|title = Sports in Brief|newspaper = [[The Christian Science Monitor]]|page = 19|date = March 1, 1955}} Less than a year later, in January 1956, he joined the staff at the [[University of Kansas]].{{cite news|author = |title = John Kovatch Named Kansas Grid Coach|url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant/154929377/|newspaper = [[Hartford Courant]]|publisher = [[Tribune Publishing]]|agency = [[United Press International|United Press]]|date = January 29, 1956|page = 6, part IV|access-date = September 9, 2024|via = [[Newspapers.com]] {{Open access}} }}
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[[Category:Military personnel from Indiana]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Indiana]]
[[Category:Schoolteachers from Michigan]]
[[Category:Schoolteachers from Michigan]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
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