Difference between revisions of "Glen Kozlowski"

Latest revision as of 15:41, 6 June 2024

Glen Kozlowski is a former professional football player and current football coach. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 11th round of the 1986 NFL draft. He played with the Bears his entire professional career, from 1987 to 1992.

He is head coach for the North Chicago High School football team. He previously coached for seven seasons at Wauconda High.

He was a weekend sports anchor on WGN-AM radio’s Sports Central.

Kozlowski was born on December 31, 1962, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He arrived at Brigham Young University in the fall of 1981 “as a brash freshman with loads of talent and a wild streak.”[1]

"After the bowl game, (McMahon) and I were both asked to leave school," Kozlowski remembers. "I was suspended for a semester. I wasn't a good example of what you were supposed to be as a BYU student. It's not something I'm proud of, but it was something I was doing and BYU held to its guns and held to its standards and said, 'You can't behave this way. You have to leave.' "

Frustrated at the time, Kozlowski decided to shop around for a new school. But two things convinced him to return to Provo — his future wife, Julie, and Cougars head coach LaVell Edwards.

”LaVell called me about once a month just to see how I was doing, encouraging me to come back and work hard and make things right," Kozlowski said. "I could have gone to other schools and I had opportunities to go elsewhere. I wanted (Julie) to go with me to another college. She said, 'Well, I'm going back to BYU. You can go wherever you want.' I kind of followed her back.”[2]

BYU and Kozlowski mended their strained relationship and, a few years later, both won a national championship in 1984.[3]

Kozlowski’s sons have also played for BYU. His son, Tyler, wore the No. 7 jersey, just like his dad.

Though Glen was rowdy when he was younger, Tyler says his dad has mellowed over the years.

”I’m telling you, he's a sensitive man now," he said. "Back in the day, there were stories about him fighting and all of this other stuff. Even growing up, we weren't allowed to cry. Nowadays, he might be the biggest crybaby of us all. He doesn't give me crap anymore."

More than anything, Tyler knows what BYU did for his dad.

”When my dad graduated from high school, they were so excited to get rid of him and have BYU take him over so he could be BYU's problem," Tyler says. "When he got here, he was a punk kid. Through LaVell, meeting my mom and being at BYU, he's changed his life. He served as first counselor in the bishopric. He's been on the high council and he's put four sons out on missions. This experience he had at BYU turned him from the little boy that he was into the man he is now.[4]

• Deseret News, "Kozlowski legend isn’t quite finished in Utah sports lore"