Child porn charges shake Tiger athletics

Allegations against assistant field hockey coach John Kovach have rocked the Towson athletic department. Baltimore County Police arrested Kovach, 52, on child pornography charges last Monday.

Kovach has coached Towson field hockey star Christina Boarman since she was four years old. The junior forward was a member of the Ocelots club team, which Kovach founded.

Boarman said that she and the rest of the team took it hard when the coaches and athletic director Mike Hermann gathered the team together and explained the situation.

“When I heard that I just started crying,” Boarman said. “I was so upset. I got sick to my stomach. It’s just upsetting because he instilled so much good in me and expected so much out of me, and now he’s turning his back on me.”

Officials began to investigate Kovach after a retired detective from Los Angeles posed as a 13-year-old girl in late February and spoke with the field hockey coach using AOL Instant Messenger. The ensuing search of his home 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, according to a BCPD.

Kovach had served as a full-time assistant coach at Towson for six seasons and is credited with bringing Boarman, who was a local standout and nationally recruited prep player, to the program.

In 2008, Boarman scored 20 goals and notched 15 assists, leading the team in both categories. She broke the school record for points in the 2007 season with 38, and she had six goals and four assists the previous season as a freshman.

“It’s a struggle because he just knows so much about field hockey,” Boarman said. “In any situation, if I was like, ‘where do I go from here, how do I do this, how do I accomplish this goal.’ He was always right

Comments

3 comments

Curious parent

Fri Mar 27 2009 15:20

Does anyone know when his trial is?

Educated on issue

Tue Mar 24 2009 17:13

The attraction to children is innate. It does not "just happen."
He is a pedophile, like many others....His sexual button leans toward that age group.

Your name

Mon Mar 23 2009 16:28

Christina Boarman has every right to be disappointed. He was a great field hockey coach and encouraged many students and players of all ages on and off the field. I think the most puzzling question is "why?" Is it a sickness, is he lonely, did something happen in his past to prompt this? No one knows the whole story. I am saddened that he gave up so much that he had going for him in other areas of his life. I am praying for him and his family that they survive this horrible situation. I am also pray for EVERYONE that has been affected by this incident.

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