Biography

Tom Kovic

	The Competitor: From 1974-1977, Kovic was a two sport athlete and a four year letter winner while a member of the Temple University gymnastics and track and field teams. Kovic placed 2nd in the pole vault at the 1974 ICAAAA championships as a freshman and he was a 12 time medalist and 1975 Eastern Conference Vaulting Champion in gymnastics. Kovic qualified to three NCAA championships and placed 18th all around in 1975 and 7th on Vaulting in 1976. He was captain of the 1977 squad and was the recipient of 3 MVP awards. In addition, Kovic qualified to the 1977 United States National Championships in the all around and represented the USA in several international gymnastics competitions from 1975-1984. Kovic received his undergraduate degree from Temple (1977) and earned a Masters degree from Illinois (1980).   The Educator/Coach: Teacher of Physical Education The Germantown Friends School (1980-1987) Owner/Director Victory Summer Camp Inc. (1993-2006) Head Gymnastics Coach The University of Pennsylvania (1987-2006) 8 Ivy League Team Championships 2 Eastern Conference Championships ECAC Coach of the Year (1994, 1997) NCAA Coach of the Year (2004) Only Ivy League Coach (Gymnastics) to win 4 consecutive Ivy League Titles Only Ivy League Coach (Gymnastics) to win ECAC Team Title (’98, ’04) Launched first Penn Athletics community outreach program (1993) 162 Academic All-Americans 19 year team Grade Point Average: 3.275 A relentless recruiter at The University of Pennsylvania, Kovic was respected throughout the country for his efforts in matriculating some of the finest student-athletes to Penn. His approach was focused not on convincing athletes and their families to choose Penn, but on providing them with accurate and honest information to assist them in reaching their college decision comfortably. By cultivating an honest relationship with students and their families early on, Coach Kovic was confident that encouragement and praise for his approach would spread in time. The Writer Tom is the author of "Reaching for Excellence" an educational guide for college athletics recruiting. In addition, he is a monthly contributor to The Courier Times ( New Jersey ), Inside Lacrosse and Raising Champions in the areas of college recruitment and youth leadership. In addition, Kovic has published recruiting articles for US Fencing Magazine and International Gymnast. He is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the Western Association for College Admissions Counseling and The Independent Education Counselors Association.Tom's second book on college recruiting will hit the bookshelves January 1, 2009. Victory is Born: Tom launched Victory Collegiate Consulting on July 1, 2006 and he has conducted over 300 seminars to over 4500 participants on college recruiting. Tom has been invited to speak at regional and national conventions for USA Gymnastics, US Lacrosse, The Princeton Review and numerous private sports organizations throughout the country. He currently provides personal advisement for 30 families from 15 states and representing 10 different sports. Tom was recently invited to speak at the 2009 Independent Educational Consultants Association National Conference and in January, 2009 Tom was invited to serve on the board of advisors for V is for Victory. So is IX, an initiative launched by the Women's Sports Foundation and The Woman's Law Project to grow further awareness about athletic opportunities for girls and young women in sport. Victory Collegiate Consulting is a proud member of The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. Tom Kovic, his wife Jennifer and daughter Hannah Katherine reside in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.