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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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Special victims
Tue Mar 17 2009 10:59
@Brian - Are you nuts? Have you never seen SVU? You're disappointed? Tell that to the exploited little girls that have lost their childhood because of pervs like Coach. Of course any good he has done should be erased by this. He stole their lives. I hope he burns in jail for what he has done. I agree if Charlotte knew or even suspected she's guilty too.
Brian Nelson
Tue Mar 17 2009 10:25
Our two children both graduated from Mater Amoris and both learned some important life lessons from John and never experienced any inappropriate behavior from him.
I'm extremely sad and dissappointed with what has occurred and hope that John gets the help he needs. He has done many good things in his life and they should not be erased by this behavior.
My daughter is at Duke today in large part to the efforts of John Kovach and I will always be thankful to him for that.
Parent
Tue Mar 17 2009 10:21
He is 52 years old. I am sure Charlotte stopped breast feeding him a long time ago.
Mater Amoris
Tue Mar 17 2009 10:08
If it comes out that Mom knew about Coach's problem, she goes to jail and the school is closed.
Agree
Tue Mar 17 2009 09:43
A letter is going out to all present Mater Amoris families as well as past families today....
Outraged
Tue Mar 17 2009 09:29
Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues -- Still not a peep from Mater Amoris. Maybe "mother love" is stronger than concern for children. If a child is exposed to anything that is potentially harmful, the school has a duty to inform the parents so that we can help them. Teachers, what the hell are you doing? Don't be complicit in this abuse. You all know about Coach, his bizarre behavior, and his indiscretions. The school has shielded him for too long, and this is the result. Serious changes are needed at Mater Amoris or the school is finished.
unknown
Tue Mar 17 2009 08:55
i hate him.
Steve (A real cop)
Tue Mar 17 2009 07:51
Steve-you must not have been much of a law enforcement officer if you are worried about a "misdemeanor arrest" at your daughter's school. How about this, commend law enforcement for taking a true child predator off the street so that he will not destroy the lives of more innocent children. Instead of worrying about the "image" of the arrest at your daughter's "prestigious" school, get your head on straight and put children first instead of your school's image. Law enforcement did the right thing, they take an oath to serve and protect, especially children. I don't know where you were law enforcement but I am glad I do not live there.
Steve
Tue Mar 17 2009 01:24
With my daughter being a recent graduate of Mater Amoris, I also echo the sentiments of communications at Mater Amoris being an issue as well as my daughter flourishing at the school through academics, theater, & field hockey. So far, & I pray that is stays this way, there seems to be no indication from students past & present of any inappropriate contact. And with 22 years in law enforcement I also have some issue with John being arrested at the school on on the misdemeanor charges, not to mention the high bail.
Concerned MA Parent
Mon Mar 16 2009 22:13
The education for our children has been wonderful, but why didn't the school notify the parents right away after he was arrested last Wednesday? Is it possible to think that the headmistress is trying to protect her son (the coach)? Would we have found out at all if the news story hadn't broken? I'm tired of the lack of communication from Mater Amoris.
Janet Mednik
Mon Mar 16 2009 20:40
As a current parent at Mater Amoris, I wish to echo the sentiments that the Lindberg-Tangs stated about the school. The school has provided a wonderful learning environment for our son. The directress and the teachers will always have our gratitude and our full support.
The Mednik Family
Cathy Lindberg-Tang, Esquire
Mon Mar 16 2009 19:36
As a professor of Criminal Law and an advocate/fundraiser for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NY division) I can only hope that the activities- as alleged/admitted- bring proper and immediate resolution in the appropriate venue. The professionals who help to protect our children (THANK-YOU!) have important, societal tasks at hand and work around the clock to keep predators away from innocent victims- our children.
Again, the folks who make up the Mater Amoris community- Head Mistress, teachers, employees- have nothing less than my highest regard. My daughter flourished academically and spiritually during the many years of her attendance on the campus. I would only wish that others were as fortunate to have had such a happy academic upbringing...
Cathy Lindberg-Tang, Esquire
Cathy Lindberg-Tang, Esquire
Mon Mar 16 2009 17:38
The Mater Amoris School is a wonderful school. I hope that people do not disregard the wonderful teachers there due to this event. My daughter played field hockey for the Ocelots and currently plays for Skidmore. She never felt any uneasiness in the presence of John Kovach- only that he was a tough coach....We count Mater Amoris as a blessing.
The Lindberg-Tangs
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