Johnny Kovatch
Born:(1912-06-06)June 6, 1912
South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
Died:October 11, 2013(2013-10-11) (aged 101)
Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Career information
Position(s)End
CollegeNorthwestern
Career history
As player
1938Cleveland Rams

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]

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] 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,[6] before becoming head football and basketball coach in January 1942,[7] 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.[6]

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.[8] Less than a year later, in January 1956, he joined the staff at the University of Kansas.[9] Until his death in October 2013, he was the second-oldest living former NFL player, behind Ace Parker.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Johnny Kovatch, Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards". databaseFootball.com. 2011. Archived from the original on May 30, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  2. ↑ "1938 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Kovatch Out for Season". The New York Times. October 7, 1938.
  4. 1 2 "Ex-Wildcat Joins Indiana Staff". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. April 7, 1942. p. 19. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  5. 1 2 "Northwestern Names Kovatch Line Coach". The Vindicator. March 12, 1947. p. 14. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Kovatch, Indiana Aide, Enters Army Apr. 21". Milwaukee Journal. Journal Communications. April 11, 1944. p. 2. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Former Northwestern Star Succeeds Don Heap". The News and Courier. Evening Post Publishing Company. January 23, 1942. p. 8. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Sports in Brief". The Christian Science Monitor. March 1, 1955. p. 19.
  9. ↑ "John Kovatch Named Kansas Grid Coach". Hartford Courant. Tribune Company. January 29, 1956. p. C6.
  10. ↑ "John Paul Kovatch". Oldest Living Pro Football Players. 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
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