Kovalchik KICKS BACK
Athletic director retires after 12 years of service; he now spends time RV-ing around the country
Maria Schmitt
Issue date: 9/11/08 Section: Sports
Recently retired Hillsdale College Athletic Director Mike Kovalchik will spend the upcoming months travelling around the country with his wife, Sheila, in their RV.
"I just want to enjoy life," Kovalchik, often called "Dr. K," said. "Thank goodness I've got the opportunity to do that."
Kovalchik retired this past spring after serving the college for 12 years.
Before coming to Hillsdale, Kovalchik served as the athletic director and chair of physical education at Grand Valley State University.
During his time with the Chargers, Kovalchik introduced a Hall of Fame, which began fall 1997, to the school's athletic department.
"I was used to them at other universities," he said.
"With the [school's] long tradition it did seem like the right thing to do. It worked out well."
Sports Information Director Brad Monastiere said the Hall of Fame was Kovalchik's baby.
"It's been a fantastic thing to link to our history," he said.
"That speaks so much to his legacy. He needs to get all the credit for that."
Kovalchik said the thing he most enjoyed about Hillsdale was the people with whom he worked.
Kovalchik didn't intend on retiring so soon.
"I never thought I'd retire," he said. "I loved what I was doing. The reasons had to be overwhelming for me to leave."
The deaths of some close friends from the college caused Kovalchik to reevaluate and decide he wanted to retire sooner.
"I lost some great friends this year," he said. "[Jack] McAvoy is what brought me to Hillsdale."
With his free time, Kovalchik plans to travel and visit family members.
He and his wife, Sheila, enjoy travelling in their RV, Monastiere said.
"As much as I love my job, I was never able to take the time to just go home in the middle of the week," he said.
Monastiere said Kovalchik was a positive, strong force in the athletic department.
"We all benefitted from Dr. K's leadership," he said.
"We all became better people by having known him in his role here."
"I just want to enjoy life," Kovalchik, often called "Dr. K," said. "Thank goodness I've got the opportunity to do that."
Kovalchik retired this past spring after serving the college for 12 years.
Before coming to Hillsdale, Kovalchik served as the athletic director and chair of physical education at Grand Valley State University.
During his time with the Chargers, Kovalchik introduced a Hall of Fame, which began fall 1997, to the school's athletic department.
"I was used to them at other universities," he said.
"With the [school's] long tradition it did seem like the right thing to do. It worked out well."
Sports Information Director Brad Monastiere said the Hall of Fame was Kovalchik's baby.
"It's been a fantastic thing to link to our history," he said.
"That speaks so much to his legacy. He needs to get all the credit for that."
Kovalchik said the thing he most enjoyed about Hillsdale was the people with whom he worked.
Kovalchik didn't intend on retiring so soon.
"I never thought I'd retire," he said. "I loved what I was doing. The reasons had to be overwhelming for me to leave."
The deaths of some close friends from the college caused Kovalchik to reevaluate and decide he wanted to retire sooner.
"I lost some great friends this year," he said. "[Jack] McAvoy is what brought me to Hillsdale."
With his free time, Kovalchik plans to travel and visit family members.
He and his wife, Sheila, enjoy travelling in their RV, Monastiere said.
"As much as I love my job, I was never able to take the time to just go home in the middle of the week," he said.
Monastiere said Kovalchik was a positive, strong force in the athletic department.
"We all benefitted from Dr. K's leadership," he said.
"We all became better people by having known him in his role here."
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