Testimonials
Lloyd Carr on Shelly Kovacs:
I worked with Shelly Kovacs for twenty-eight years after being hired as an assistant football coach in 1980 at the University of Michigan. She was always a consistent, powerful presence in supporting, mentoring and advising countless numbers of our student athletes. Now she has written a book that will be of great value to anyone in the intercollegiate athletic arena.
It is difficult work and it presents difficult challenges. It requires passion, commitment and perseverance. An academic advisor must earn the respect and trust of the student. Shelly’s book provides her blueprint for confronting and conquering those challenges. She explains how to identify the needs of individual students and how to develop a plan for success.
Shelly has had wonderful success working with students who left school without a degree. She explains the difficult transition to school after their eligibility has expired. Too many athletes leave college without a degree. We can and must do better in supporting and advising them. We must commit to their education, to preparing them for 21st century employment and ultimately to helping them become accountable and responsible citizens.
College Knowledge is a result of Shelly Kovacs’ passion to do better.
Lloyd Carr Former Head Football Coach 1995-2007 University of Michigan September 2012 Ann Arbor, Michigan
Brian Townsend: former UM and NFL football player, high school and college basketball coach, major university athletic department administrator
“My relationship with Shelly Kovacs has been invaluable to me in my roles as student, high school and college coach and college athletic administrator. I first met Shelly when I was a freshman at the University of Michigan. She guided me through my undergraduate degree and transition back to school as a post graduate student.
When I made the decision to retire from the NFL, she was the person I called about my plan to return to school for a teaching certificate. Shelly knew me well enough to understand that basketball was really my first love, even though I played college and professional football. She thought of a plan for me to cross over to basketball by working with their strength and conditioning program while I earned my teaching certificate. It was a great way to get my foot in the basketball door and the rest is history!
When I think of how Shelly has been most helpful to student athletes, the concept of developing a blue print comes to mind. In working with me, and the students I have recruited and coached at Michigan, I have seen her in operation; she engages students to take ownership of their education and then facilitates and implements the plan for academic success. They start out being accountable to her, but quickly realize they must be accountable to themselves.
From a college coach’s perspective, I had complete trust in Shelly. It was a given that students would understand their academic expectations and be more prepared for their futures. Coaching is a stressful job; I can honestly say I worried less about my students working with Shelly.
While this book is aimed at college students, having taught and coached at the high school level, I would also highly recommend this book to high school athletes, coaches, parents, and administrators. It provides the principles of academic success that apply in high school or college, and lays the ground work for a successful academic adjustment to college. Most high school athletes transition easily athletically, but have difficulty with the academic transition. I wish I could have used this book while I was coaching high school basketball!
‘College Knowledge for the Student Athlete’ is a ‘must’ read for anybody concerned about the academic success of student athletes and If you have the chance to work with Shelly, take it!”
Michael Martin: NFL
“It is so important for student-athletes to understand the meaning of balance. You have to approach the classroom and your study habits the same as you would the playing field. This book is a key tool to helping you cope with situations unique to the student-athlete, and should be a useful tool to refer back to throughout undergrad.”
Carl Hagelin: UM Hockey Co-Captain NHL
“Shelly has been a great influence on me as a person. For a number of years she provided me with great advice and support. Her way of understanding me as a person, student and athlete maximized my opportunity to excel at the University of Michigan. Shelly guided me in the right direction and was always a person I could talk to, which helped me develop as a person, and ultimately have the best four years of my life.”
Kevin Koger: NFL free agent
“I would not only recommend this book to any incoming freshman collegiate athlete, but also to any athlete that is struggling to find their way through the demanding academic requirements. As a student athlete, juggling academics and your respective sport can be a challenge. Reading this book will give you proper insight of how to stay on track and be successful in both aspects. This book would have been highly beneficial to me in college but I was fortunate enough to work with Shelly. When I was rejected from my desired major, Shelly was there to help me through that tough time. With her great recommendations and unwavering support, I was accepted into my major the second time around and later graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Sport Management. She greatly helped me and others like me during my time at Michigan. We owe Shelly and are forever thankful. Thank you!!”
Tim Massaquoi: Former NFL Player
“Shelly Kovacs was a great mentor to me at the University of Michigan. She understands successes and failures of the student athletes and is very supportive in their efforts to become champions in life!!!”
Matt Rust: UM Hockey Co-Captain
“Over the course of my tenure at the University of Michigan, I matured as both a student and student-athlete. The rigors of a challenging academic commitment along with the dedication to my athletic endeavors were overwhelming to say the least. I cannot stress enough the importance of truly understanding the student-athlete. Many student athletes have different stories to tell. Most have achieved a great deal in their sport, that is a given. However, many student athletes don’t quite realize what they can achieve in the classroom. That is the reality of many young, gifted college athletes. It was my reality. I was always a solid student in high school, maintaining a 3.7 GPA, but college was a whole different animal. It was critical for me to be pushed, and Shelly knew that from the start. She was able to understand and organize my strengths and weaknesses into a schedule that gave me the best opportunity to succeed. She cared about my success as a student-athlete, but she went a step further. She wanted me to understand my capabilities in the classroom and be proud of those achievements, just like I was proud of the ones I achieved athletically. She dedicated herself to making me the best student-athlete. I have countless stories of Shelly going above and beyond for me, going out of her way just so I was always in a good position with both professors and facility. In her office, I was an equal and respected. I will always consider Shelly a mentor, but more importantly, a friend. I strongly recommend incoming student-athletes to use Shelly’s expertise. I fully endorse her book ‘College Knowledge for the Student-Athlete.’ Any athlete would be lucky to work with her in any capacity.”
Ryan Chow
“When I first arrived at the University of Michigan as a transfer student in the winter semester, I had trouble adjusting to college life. I did not have the normal orientation with the thousands of new incoming students and all the events aimed at getting new students acclimated. Although I struggled academically at first, Shelly provided the guidance and direction I needed to become successful as a student and more importantly, as a person. She helped me get through school and also helped me to see the big picture beyond college. I had two years of failing grades before she intervened and turned my college career around. She has continued to keep in touch with me after I graduated from the University of Michigan and after she has retired from her position there. With her help, I have recently been accepted to a competitive Doctor of Physical Therapy graduate program! Thank you Shelly!”
Shantee Orr: UM Graduate and Student Athlete 1999-2002
“From day one at freshmen orientation, I found that someone, in you, who had our success as student athletes at the top of their priority list. Over the course of four years, I learned how much of a business being an athlete was, and how that responsibility trumped all other things on campus. It was you, who kept my mind focused on the right goals, which were life after college and an education that stood out from the rest. Through strategic planning, motivation, goal setting and your passion for education you helped etch in my brain, and that of many others, the importance of education. It is those qualities that have enabled you to be so effective and successful in your field to this day. With your plan and recipe, you can help any student athlete with any circumstance be successful.
I would like to personally thank you for your time, energy and efforts in helping me finish my degree and complete the one goal I held far above playing six years in the N.F.L. or any other accomplishment to date. That goal was to obtain my degree from the University of Michigan. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Melissa Mattich: Former Student 2002, Currently college and athlete advisor
If it were not for Shelly Kovacs I would not be the person that I am today. From a personal perspective, as my academic advisor and continued mentor, Shelly has provided me with personal guidance and support to grow, explore, and develop as an individual and as a professional. It is because of her unremitting guidance that I was able to maneuver through many obstacles in my professional life and find the success I currently embrace.
Shelly is someone who fights for the right of the student while pushing a student intellectually to achieve optimal success and find their best self. As a result, she has a unique ability to connect with and embrace students from all walks of life, each with their own set of circumstances. This has been the key to Shelly’s success, including her expertise in maximizing academic potential for athletes.
Shelly is that person that you can always, always turn to in times of need or celebration; she will listen to you, celebrate with you, tell you the truth and always leave you feeling better than when you arrived. She is an asset to not only my life, but the life of any student, athlete, administrator, coach or parent that is fortunate enough to cross her path.
Aaron Shea: NFL
Shelly Kovacs’ advisement helped me earn my degree from the University of Michigan. As an NFL player, I had 3 credits to complete, but with Shelly’s encouragement and scheduling help, I was able to come back to Michigan in my offseason and complete my credits. Shelly has an amazing capability of understanding an athlete, and connecting with them. Her true enthusiasm to see each student succeed is seen in her continuous effort s to help them with what they need at any time. My family and I will always be blessed, having Shelly in our corner.
Trey Burke: UM Basketball
Working with Shelly made a huge impact in both my academic and basketball careers. When I came in as a freshman, I got off to a rocky start, but with Shelly’s help, I was able to get on track and perform strongly in school. With no concerns about my work in the classroom, I was able to spend my time on the basketball court truly focusing on basketball. Shelly’s assistance helped pave the way for my success.
Jordan Kovacs (no relation to Shelly Kovacs): Miami Dolphins
As an undergrad at the University of Michigan, I was fortunate to have Shelly as my counselor. From applying to the School of Kinesiology to scheduling classes and eventually writing letters of recommendation, Shelly had slowly become my academic coach. She gave me the proper guidance and direction to succeed at the highest level both on and off the field. Shelly was always there when I needed advice and mentorship then, and still is there today. I can call Shelly a lot of things, but I’m most proud to call her my friend. Thanks Shelly!
Josh Bartlestein: Former UM Basketball Team Captain
Many times in the world of athletics and academics you find experts in one area or the other. Shelly Kovacs is able to bring those two worlds together and find the best path for success on and off the court. She understands the grueling demands of playing a sport at the highest level, but also knows a playing career only lasts so long. Between her own experiences and her vast network of connections, Shelly has seen it all. Her footprint is all over the amazing four years I had at the University of Michigan.
Will Heininger: Public Speaker/Consultant, Mental Health and Personal Development; Athletics
Shelly’s network of highly achieving and influential people is as strong as anyone’s. But it’s not just who Shelly knows that makes her great; her love for people, ability to genuinely connect, and understand where you are and where you want to go combines with that network to make it happen. In my life, she’s helped with everything from college major choice, to career consulting, to establishing connections with elite professionals in any field I’ve wanted to explore. Shelly is one of a kind, and I’m so lucky to have her in my life.