Johnny Kovatch

For the Washington Redskins and Green Bay Packers player, see John Kovatch.
Johnny Kovatch
Date of birth: June 6, 1912
Place of birth: South Bend, Indiana, United States
Date of death: October 11, 2013 (aged 101)
Place of death: Santa Barbara, California, United States
Career information
Position(s): E
College: Northwestern University
Organizations
As player:
1938 Cleveland Rams
Career stats
Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com

John Paul "Johnny" Kovatch (June 6, 1912 – October 11, 2013) was a professional American football player who played six games as an end for the Cleveland Rams of the National Football League during their 1938 season.[1] His tenure with the Rams ended in October 1938, when he fractured his backbone and was injured for the remainder of the season.[2]

Kovatch was born in South Bend, Indiana and took up football at Central High School.[3] Prior to his professional career he was an end on the Northwestern Wildcats football team from 1935 through 1937.[4] After his professional career he took up football coaching at Saginaw High School in Michigan. He then served as grid coach at Illinois Wesleyan University,[5] before becoming head football and basketball coach in January 1942,[6] in addition to positions that he already held as athletic director and track coach. In April 1942, however, he joined Indiana University Bloomington as an assistant coach.[3] In April 1944 he was called to serve in the United States Army during World War II.[5]

Kovatch stayed at Indiana University until March 1947, when he joined the coaching staff of his alma mater Northwestern University.[4] He remained there until February 1955 and was hired as an end coach at the University of Nebraska the following month.[7] Less than a year later, in January 1956, he joined the staff at the University of Kansas.[8] Until his death in October 2013, he was the second-oldest living former NFL player, behind Ace Parker.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Johnny Kovatch, Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards". databaseFootball.com. 2011. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
  2. ↑ "Kovatch Out for Season". The New York Times. 1938-10-07.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Ex-Wildcat Joins Indiana Staff". Chicago Tribune (Tribune Company). 1942-04-07. p. 19. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Northwestern Names Kovatch Line Coach". The Vindicator. 1947-03-12. p. 14. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Kovatch, Indiana Aide, Enters Army Apr. 21". Milwaukee Journal (Journal Communications). 1944-04-11. p. 2. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
  6. ↑ "Former Northwestern Star Succeeds Don Heap". The News and Courier (Evening Post Publishing Company). 1942-01-23. p. 8. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
  7. ↑ "Sports in Brief". The Christian Science Monitor. 1955-03-01. p. 19.
  8. ↑ "John Kovatch Named Kansas Grid Coach". Hartford Courant (Tribune Company). 1956-01-29. p. C6.
  9. ↑ "John Paul Kovatch". Oldest Living Pro Football Players. 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-02.