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The Towerlight

Assistant field hockey coach John Kovach arrested

Possession of child pornography

By Pete Lorenz

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Published: Monday, March 16, 2009

Updated: Monday, March 16, 2009

Assistant field hockey coach John Kovach was arrested Monday for possession of child pornography, according to a Baltimore County Police report.

Kovach, 52, engaged in conversation with a retired detective from Los Angeles who posed as a 13-year-old girl in late February. This sparked an investigation of Kovach, which included a search of his home that resulted in the discovery of multiple samples of child pornography as well as a handgun that was accessible to a minor who lived at the residence.

Kovach had served as an assistant coach at Towson for six seasons and has coached youth programs for many years. He ran the highly regarded Mater Amoris Ocelots club team where he coached with Tigers’ star Christina Boarman when she was in high school. His profile has been removed from the Towson Tigers Web site.

Kovach began the Ocelots under-12 co-ed field hockey program, which operates out of the Mater Amoris Montessori School in Ashton, Md., 10 years ago. Graduates of the program have gone on to play for schools such as Duke, Northwestern and Stanford.

Kovach also spent time as an assistant coach for the University of Virginia during one of the team’s most successful runs. The Cavaliers reached the Final Four four times with Kovach aboard, and achieved their first ever No. 1 ranking in the national polls.

The police report stated that Kovach was arrested at Mater Amoris, and that he admitted afterward to his preference of viewing young girls between the ages of 9 and 13. He has apparently used several AOL Instant Messenger screen names in the past in attempt to converse with young girls on the Internet.

With Kovach on staff, the Tigers made their second straight conference tournament appearance this fall losing to Old Dominion, 5-1, in the first round.

Kovach is being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on $250,000 bond.

Comments

113 comments
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Your name
Wed Nov 18 2009 23:24
i am sorry maybe i was not clear, i am happy there are some people who are not trying to speak against john and see the positive end of the spectrum...many people who have left comments on this site were harsh and unpleasant; they fail to realize he has a daughter and a family who can see and read this imagine what they must think reading all of these comment; and i feel that the people who knew him should just pray and wish the best for him and his family; no one knows what he and his family must be going through in this difficult time; my prayers are with them.
Concerned
Mon Nov 16 2009 19:35
I am afraid you are getting people's comments mixed up. I know nothing about any plea bargins and never said that I did.
I have known the family from well before college years.
There is no hidden agenda here as would be evident if you read my comments again. There has been no attempt on my part to cause more anger- no excuses can be made for the John's actions.
Your name
Sun Nov 15 2009 10:55
well how have you managed to know John for 35 years when he only worked at Mater Amoris for approximately 25 years and furthermore, where are you getting your information from that he is plea bargaining when the public doesnt know this and John is in contact with other people too?
Concerned
Sat Nov 14 2009 21:53
I am also worried about his well being. This in no way is an attempt to diminish or make apologies for John's actions. I feel that children and their families had something stolen from them by his actions.
There can be no excuse for what he did.
I will only say that I have known John for over 35 years, and I just know that there is good inside this man. The psychological flaws seem massive; I can only hope that something positive will come from this- both for him and the people he has hurt
Your name
Sat Nov 14 2009 19:05
how do you know this information...where are you getting this from i am wondering...i am concerned about his well being and would like to know how you know the status of his case?
your name
Fri Nov 13 2009 21:59
John's lawyers are trying to make a deal with the Federal prosecutors. So, right now the trial date has been delayed until a deal is made...or not. What is truly sad is that this man had so much going for him and had the respect of both young children, college students and adults. He did a terrible thing that indeed resulted from illness in the brain. Despite the illness, all of these children and students feel betrayed and hurt by his actions. You have to understand how close their relationship was, spending day after day with him in school and on the field.
concerned
Tue Nov 10 2009 17:32
Actually, I am a friend from years gone by, and I have been unable to get any information. I am not making judgements one way or the other so please get off of your soap box. You are not the only person in the world who has empathy. If anyone out there besides this person has any information it would be appreciated.
Your name
Tue Nov 10 2009 17:14
is that all people care about is if he goes on trial and if he is in jail...i mean he is a person not a crazy psychopath and afterall he does have a family who does care about him and they can read this thread.
concerned
Tue Nov 10 2009 11:18
Is there a trial date? Is he in jail?
former student
Tue Oct 20 2009 18:03
uhhhh I know what I know. Coach may not be "dangerous" to anyone, but he is still the MEANEST person I have ever met. He still ruined my childhood schooling, and I feel he should suffer in jail.
a true primary source
Fri Oct 16 2009 19:49
well if you did some research you yourself would know that no they dont get healed 100 percent however, those with terrible illnesses including cancer do not get healed 100 percent there is a slight chance it could happen again, and there is no cure to cancer nor is there a cure to pedophilia however, people can change if you read the Bible or believe in some form of higher being mine being God, you should know this, miracles do happen it has been proven that some things are miraculous and maybe did you ever think that he is one of those few cases that is a miracle but wait, how would you know when you dont even talk or see him...therefore it is judge-mental and negative thinking to think and say that he will never change because not only does that give no hope, but it also negates the proven research that has been done on these such things as well as other situations...what you are saying is a stereotype and a statement that has been culturally spread meaning it is not 100 percent true i would know, I study psychology and sociology.
Your name
Fri Oct 16 2009 19:26
pedophiles never change, they just change their location. Right now, he's on lockdown and does not have access to the internet. Let's see what happens when this case is over. I wish this never happened either, but it did. John Kovach is a good man, and no, I don't wish to crucify him, BUT, no matter how good the man is or his intentions, please understand that when a person is a pedophile, there is no change in that kind of behavior, no matter how much counseling he may receive. It is a known fact that pedophiles do not change their behavior, they just change their location and acquaintences. Do some reasearch and look it up for yourself.
a true primary source
Fri Oct 16 2009 14:17
ok so for everyone who keeps on writing these hate messages...chillax ok...if u hated MA so damn much then why didnt you all move your asses and get out better yet why didnt your parents be parents and pull you out there are plenty of other schools for you to go to nobody twisted your arms to stay...furthermore if he "allegedly" wiped sweat on you face what the HELL did your parents do about it obviously nothing because you stayed there so yet again this goes back on you, you all stayed at MA despite the fact that you were unhappy...and to the statement that coach was always bad everyone knew it...please SHUT UP okay everyone is human and makes mistakes what are we going to do nail him to the cross like Christ and scorn him until he dies be human and realize that maybe he was sick or distraught and that maybe now he is a much better person someone who would never ever dream of doing a thing like that or talk like that to anyone, did any of you "haters" every think that maybe he has changed seen himself, his true self in the mirror and has become and true good person and is not the man you knew him to be years ago, did any of you ever stop to think about that instead of your hate filled, scorn stuffed, thoughts...trust me, i would know take it from the true primary source.
former student
Mon Oct 12 2009 13:10
to the kid who got sweat wiped on your face, HAHAHAHAHAHA. I am so with you! I HATED coach. God he was a miserable piece of crap. To all the parents that say he was bad, you are right. Take it from me a primary source. He completey ruined my time at that school. I have never vivited there since a graduated. When ever I look back I shutter. It's all because of coach k. One of my worst memories is when him and my dad got in a fight, and he was yelling and screaming at my own daddy. I always always always knew he was bad! hes bad bad bad. On the California cup trip in 2007, he was driving children around with a suspended license.
graduate
Sun Oct 11 2009 00:23
I'm a recent graduate of MA and I have something to say- SCREW ALL OF THE PARENTS WHO SAY THAT THEY KNEW THIS WAS COMING. You didn't know a thing, so don't act like you did. Coach K was a good coach even though he let us down. He never bothered anyone and he NEVER EVER acted inappropriately towards any of us; I know this for a fact.
DONTASK
Wed Oct 7 2009 19:15
I'm Still in MA (Its my last year)
And I am shocked by coach. He always was stern and mean... I hear he lives on campus in summer. Some of my friends told me...
Coach... He ripped all my classmates hearts out. I will never forgive him.
still ma student
Tue Oct 6 2009 19:56
I am a ma student (last year for me) and i know he did a bad thing but he was the one who made our field hockey and i will always remeber him
Your name
Wed Sep 23 2009 15:57
I am a former student from MA and I HATED Coach K. He was a really weird and miserable piece of crap. Once I asked Coach K how hot it was outside. He had just finished taking another group out for recess and now he was taking our group out. Instead of answering me he wiped sweat off of his face and wiped it on mine. I think I was in 2nd or 3rd grade. Really a weird, nasty guy.
Your name
Wed Sep 9 2009 13:51
He is not living on campus, he had to move on Aug. 26th.
former student
Mon Aug 17 2009 17:18
I had a sighting of john riding in his silver jeep in montgomery county. His license tag in "panamint" just so we all know.
I can't beleive he is living on campus, That's insane!! he is probably associating with the children.
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