Former Golden Eagle football coach Mike Sinkovitz victim of auto accident
WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Former Tennessee Tech defensive line coach
Mike Sinkovitz, a member of Gary Darnell's staff from 1983 to 1985,
died on Wednesday, Dec 3, due to injuries sustained in a car
accident. He was at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in
Wilmington.
Sinkovitz was known among the staff and Golden Eagle players as
"coach Sarge" in tribute to his 26 years as a member of the United
States Army Special Forces. He worked to help develop and mold an
extremely young Tech defensive line.
A native of Harrisburg, Pa., Sinkovitz attended Upper Iowa
University where he received his bachelor's degree in 1977 in
business and physical education. Among his coaching credenitals
prior to his arrival at Tech were stints as the defensive line
coach at the University of Wisconsin, defensive coordinator at
Upper Iowa, defensive line coach at Panhandle (Okla.) State
University, and defensive line coach at the University of New
Mexico.
He joined a TEch coaching staff in 1983 under Darnell that also
included Dennis Franchione, Bruce Snelling, Wade Cargile, John
Somsky, Dick Bumpas, Gary Patterson and Michael Schultz.
His complete obituary:
Command Sergeant Major Ret. John "Mike" Sinkovitz died on
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008 at New Hanover Regional Medical
Center in Wilmington.
John was born in Harrisburg Pennsylvania on June 23rd 1936, to John
and Mary Sinkovitz. He retired from the Army in 1981 after 26 years
of service to his country. John was a distinguished and decorated
soldier in both Korea and Vietnam. After the military, John coached
college football at a number of schools and became the Director of
Intramurals and Recreation at Methodist University in 1989.
John Sinkovitz is survived by his wife, Karen Jordan Sinkovitz; his
three children, Cathryn, Christopher and Michael; his two
grandchildren, James and Kayla; and two sisters, Carlene and
Joanne.
A Memorial will be held in Reeves Auditorium at Methodist
University on Wednesday December 10th at 4:00 pm. Funeral services
will be conducted at 3:00pm on Friday, February 13th in Arlington
National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in
John's name to The Walter Reid Society OIF/OEF Family Support Fund,
PO Box 596 Walter Reid Station, Washington DC 20012, an
organization dedicated to improving the lives of our wounded
veterans.
