MIKE “KOVO” KOVALESKI

Mike Kovaleski graduated in 1983, and was outstanding athlete in two sports. He earned five varsity letters: three in football and two in basketball.  

            The 1983 yearbook quoted football coach Mark Surface on Mike’s football prowess: “Mike did it all.” Mike’s individual honors in football included: All North Central Conference in 1981 and 1982, team captain his senior year, after his senior season in football he was named to the North/South All Star game where he was named the most valuable player.  He was also two-time All-State (1981, 1982) and was a High School All-American his senior year. He once had 28 tackles in one game and, for his career, had 528 tackles and eight interceptions.  Mike also contributed on the offensive side of the ball as well, by scoring 10 touchdowns, kicked 4 field goals and converted 19 PAT’s.

            In basketball, Mike was a team captain his senior year, when he averaged over 10 points per game and 7 rebounds per game. He was named to the All-NCC team his senior year.  His team won the sectional and regional champions in 1983.

Mike graduated in 1987 from the University of Notre Dame, with a degree in Business and Economics. He was a four-year starter at middle linebacker for the “Fighting Irish.” He was an All-American his freshman year and earned honorable mention his senior year. He ranked sixth in school history with 363 tackles for his career. During Lou Holtz’s first year at Notre Dame, Mike was named the Lone Captain of the team.  He was the first Lone Captain since Rocky Bleier in 1967.

            After  college, Mike played one year in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns.      

            Mike currently lives in Anderson, Indiana, where he is a vice-president at Old National Insurance, working in Employee Plans, LLC. He also is CEO of Securewebmanager, LLC, a company he helped create. Mike and his wife, Stephanie, have three children, William, Sydney and Clayton, as well as one granddaughter, Leyla.