When John Kovenz began his teaching and coaching career at Medford Highs School in 1955, he had already established himself as a success in our society. While attending Lincoln High School in Portland he played three years of baseball and four years of ice hockey. In 1941 he was a player on the State Championship American Legion Baseball Team coached by his high school coach, Wade Williams. That year they went to Montana for the Regional Playoffs and in 1942, lost to Albany for the State Championship title. Immediately following his graduation from high school, John enjoyed the 1943-44 season with a Portland Semi Pro Hockey Team, but WWII cut short that venture.

After returning from military duty with the United States Navy, John attended the University of Oregon where he lettered in baseball three sea­sons, 1947 through 1949, receiving All Northern Division honors his senior year.  Upon graduation from the University of Or­egon, John signed a professional contract with the Cleveland Indians Organization: 1949-1950 played with the Bakersfield Indians, a California State League; 1951 with the Tacoma Tigers, Western International League; 1952; with the Wichita In­dians, a Western League and the Tri-Cities Braves, a Western International League.

In 1953, while employed by the Cape Arago Lumber Company of Coos Bay, he played for the Coos Bay-North Bend Lumberjacks but of more importance, John met and married schoolteacher, Alice Smith. In 1955 they moved to Medford where both started teaching in the Medford School System.

As an English teacher at Medford High School, John became head varsity baseball and JV football coach. Over the next 12 baseball seasons his teams won 5 Southern Oregon Conference Championships and 1 State Championship.

In 1956 his team was conference champions losing to Lincoln High in the state championship game (Lincoln High’s pitcher later pitched for the Detroit Tigers in the World series). His 1960 team defeated Parkrose High School of Portland to gain Medford High School its first Baseball State cham­pionship. That year was a triple winning year for Medford as the basketball and football teams se­ cured the State Championship title in their re­spective sports. John served as Assistant Coach at the 1st State Baseball All Star Series in 1959 and again in 1960. In 1963 he was Head Coach of the State All Stars and in 1986 was Honorary coach of the event.