1. Michael Joseph Holovak was an American football player, coach, and executive.
35 Facts About Mike Holovak
1. 2.
Mike Holovak played college football at Boston College, where he was an All-American at fullback in 1942.
3.
Mike Holovak was the fifth overall selection of the 1943 NFL draft by the Cleveland Rams.
4.
Mike Holovak was the general manager of the Houston Oilers from 1989 to 1993.
5.
Mike Holovak was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1985.
6.
Mike Holovak was one of six children and the youngest of five sons born in Lansford, Pennsylvania.
7.
Mike Holovak played fullback at Lansford High School, but was not offered a scholarship.
8.
Mike Holovak worked for a year, then enrolled at Seton Hall Preparatory School with high school teammate Joe Repko.
9.
However, when Fordham assistant Frank Leahy got the head coaching job at Boston College, Mike Holovak chose to play for BC instead.
10.
Mike Holovak played for the Boston College freshman team in 1939.
11.
Mike Holovak became the varsity starter at fullback his sophomore year after Frank Davis quit football before the start of the season.
12.
In 1941, Mike Holovak was moved to right halfback and rushed for 539 yards in 10 games.
13.
Mike Holovak and Fred Naumetz were elected as co-captain of the 1942 Boston College Eagles football team.
14.
Mike Holovak earned consensus first-team All-American honors and was fourth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.
15.
Mike Holovak attended the Melville Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Training Center in Melville, Rhode Island and commanded a PT boat in the Pacific.
16.
Mike Holovak was credited with sinking nine Japanese ships and overcame a bout with malaria that left him unconscious for a week.
17.
In 1945, Mike Holovak returned to the Melville Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Training Center and coached the installation's football team.
18.
In 1947, Mike Holovak was traded to the Chicago Bears for halfback Dante Magnani.
19.
Mike Holovak rushed for 509 yards and 3 touchdowns in his two seasons with the Bears.
20.
In 1949, Mike Holovak returned to Boston College as freshman football coach.
21.
Mike Holovak was promoted to varsity head coach on December 30,1950.
22.
Mike Holovak complied four more winning seasons, however after early seasons losses to Navy and Army and an upset loss to Boston University, Holovak began receiving "abuse from the stands" and a small, but vocal group of alumni pushed for him to be replaced.
23.
In 1964, Mike Holovak added the duties of general manager to his job description.
24.
In 1969, Mike Holovak became the offensive backfield coach for the San Francisco 49ers.
25.
Mike Holovak returned to sidelines the following year as running backs coach.
26.
On February 18,1969, Mike Holovak was appointed to the Massachusetts State Racing Commission by governor Francis Sargent.
27.
Mike Holovak's coaching duties outside of the state led to poor attendance at commission meetings and he resigned in 1971 due to the "press of other duties".
28.
In 1975, Mike Holovak was named director of player personnel for the New York Jets.
29.
Mike Holovak rejoined the Patriots in 1977 as a personnel assistant.
30.
In 1981, Mike Holovak was named assistant general manager of the Houston Oilers.
31.
Mike Holovak helped build Oilers teams that made the playoffs in 1987 and 1988.
32.
Mike Holovak was fired on January 26,1994 and replaced by his assistant, Floyd Reese.
33.
Mike Holovak remained a scout for the franchise, which later shifted to Tennessee, until retiring in 1999.
34.
On September 11,1943, Mike Holovak married Edith Casavant in her hometown of Natick, Massachusetts.
35.
On January 27,2008, Mike Holovak, who had been suffering from alzheimer's disease died in Ruskin, Florida from complications from pneumonia.