Zeke Bratkowski

Coach Kojoyian coaches his last football game 11/2/12

• Report rights infringement
• published: 04 Dec 2012
• views: 652

Coach Kojoyian's glorious career as a teacher/coach began in 1952 at his high school alma mater Westboro High in Westboro, MA after graduating from George Washington University. Over this 60 year span as a football coach he transformed the lives of thousands of young men for the better. Kojoyian was 4 year varsity stand-out that played both ways as a guard / middle guard for the Colonials of GWU in the then Southern Conference. He played against several All-Americans of that era, such as "Babe" Parilli of Univ of Kentucky, Ed and Dick Modzewleski "Big Mo & Lil Mo" of Univ of Maryland, Zeke Bratkowski of Univ of Georgia, and Steve Wadiak "the Cadillac" of Univ of South Carolina. He played against the famed coaches then, Paul "Bear" Bryant of Univ. of Kentucky, Jack "Cowboy" Tatum of Univ of Maryland, Clyde "Peahead" Walker of Wake Forest. Coach Kojoyian sent hundreds of superior student athletes that adhered to his tutelage on to the college level and pros excelling as students and ball players. From Newton South High in Newton, MA, many former players began coaching careers at Newton South as Coach Kojoyian's assistants. I don't remember all of them but credit is due to the NSHS coaching alum's Mark Young, Tommy Rezzutti, Tommy Lopez, Greg McDonald, John Passarini, Paul Murphy, John Staulo and more that all excelled in coaching careers. Two notable standouts over the course of my Dad's coaching career were Harry Crump, a Westboro High School 3 sport phenome that went on to a great career as fullback for Boston College where he earned the name "Crump the Thump", Crump was one of the first fullbacks for early 60's Boston Patriots of the early AFL. Mark Young another 3 sport star from the early 60's of Newton South High in Newton, MA played end for Coach and was a great track star, which led Mark to a great football and track career at Yale. Mark set a world indoor relay record at the Millrose Games, and eventually became the Head Coach of Yale's indoor/outdoor women's track teams. Coach Young also had the honor of being chosen to coach the women's USA track team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Brian White son of Boston Celtics JoJo White was a great running back for my Dad at Newton South, he had a tremendous career at Dartmouth that led him to playing for the New England Patriots. Brian has some nice words at this link about my Dad and Mike Mosca another of my Dad's ball players that played for him and coached with him. http://www.brianwhiteonline.com/bio/news/2007/070316.html Coach K was honored by the Massachusetts High School Athletic Association and inducted in its Hall of Fame as Football Coach and Wrestling Coach as will as being inducted to Westboro High and Newton South High athletic Hall of Fames. I believe since the creation of this dynamic game of football in 1879 and my Dad's continuous coaching career over 60 years and his current choice to walk away from the sideline at 85 puts him statistically in rare company. Surely many coaches had long careers but in high school it is rare feat to coach 60 years. Two of the early founders of football of the college ranks come to mind, Pop Warner at age 83 coached 44 years, Amos Alonzo Stagg at age 103 coached 68 years. Football is a true drug infused in the blood of coaches and players alike and many struggle when its time to walk away from the game. Come this July none of us know how it will tug on the Coach, because all coaches know that two-a-days are around the corner in August and that has fueled 60 plus years of excitement... -------------------------------------------------------------------- High Schools Coached at in Chronology (apprx) 1952-1962 • Westboro High School, Westboro, MA 1963-early1990's • Newton South High School, Newton MA mid 1990's • St John's Prep, Washington DC (alma mater of Coley O'Brien , Mike Kruzcek) mid 1990's-2000 • South Lakes High School, Reston, VA (alma mater of Grant Hill) early to mid- 2010 • Madison High School, Vienna, VA 2011-12 • Paul the VII, Fairfax, VA