John Paul 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 (NFL) during their 1938 season.[1] He was drafted in the seventh round of the 1938 NFL Draft.[2] His tenure with the Rams ended in October 1938, when he fractured his backbone and was injured for the remainder of the season.[3]
| Date of birth | June 6, 1912 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | South Bend, Indiana, U.S. |
| Date of death | October 11, 2013 (aged 101) |
| Place of death | Santa Barbara, California, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | End |
| US college | Northwestern |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1938 | Cleveland Rams |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Kovatch was born in South Bend, Indiana and took up football at Central High School.[4] Prior to his professional career he was an end on the Northwestern Wildcats football team from 1935 through 1937.[5] In 1936 he was selected as a second-team All-American.[6] 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,[7] before becoming head football and basketball coach in January 1942,[8] 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.[4] In April 1944 he was called to serve in the United States Army during World War II.[7]
Kovatch stayed at Indiana until March 1947, when he joined the coaching staff of his alma mater, Northwestern University.[5] He remained there until February 1955 and was hired as an end coach at the University of Nebraska the following month.[9] Less than a year later, in January 1956, he joined the staff at the University of Kansas.[10] Until his death in October 2013, he was the second-oldest living former NFL player, behind Ace Parker.[11]
References edit
- ^ "Johnny Kovatch, Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards". databaseFootball.com. 2011. Archived from the original on May 30, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
- ^ "1938 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ^ "Kovatch Out for Season". The New York Times. October 7, 1938.
- ^ a b "Ex-Wildcat Joins Indiana Staff". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. April 7, 1942. p. 19. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
- ^ a b "Northwestern Names Kovatch Line Coach". The Vindicator. March 12, 1947. p. 14. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
- ^ "New Grid Coach..." Indiana Alumni Magazine. 9 (8): 15. 1947. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ a b "Kovatch, Indiana Aide, Enters Army Apr. 21". Milwaukee Journal. Journal Communications. April 11, 1944. p. 2. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
- ^ "Former Northwestern Star Succeeds Don Heap". The News and Courier. Evening Post Publishing Company. January 23, 1942. p. 8. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
- ^ "Sports in Brief". The Christian Science Monitor. March 1, 1955. p. 19.
- ^ "John Kovatch Named Kansas Grid Coach". Hartford Courant. Tribune Company. January 29, 1956. p. C6.
- ^ "John Paul Kovatch". Oldest Living Pro Football Players. 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2013.