“I have learned so many life lessons from sports, but one that stands out above the rest is to give 100% effort in everything you do. I try to do this in not only sports but also outside of sports,” said NDA teacher and Coach Chris Nowak.

Nowak played many sports as a youth, including football, baseball, basketball, track and golf. 

Nowak had much success in football. In high school he won awards such as a First Team All-State Wide Receiver and Second Team All-State Defensive Back. 

He continued his athletic career at Michigan Tech, where he was named Honorable Mention All-Conference Outside Linebacker and First Team Academic All-American. 

Nowak came back to Notre Dame Academy 12 years ago to help his dad, John Nowak,  coach football and track.

“The person who inspired me to be a coach was my father,” said Nowak. “He coached football and track and field here for 30+ years as an assistant and head coach. He taught me how to be a great coach on and off the field. He had a great way of interacting with his players and always separated the two. I was always amazed how he could yell at a kid during practice and the next day joke around with the same kid in class.” 

Nowak has had plenty of memories coaching, but his favorite “was winning the football state championship in 2015 with my dad. I still remember the last play on defense when we had won the game, and I sprinted down the sideline and gave him a big hug, which is the picture hanging outside his old office here at school.” 

Nowak says he enjoys track and football in different ways. 

“I like coaching both football and track equally. I have and will always love football, and it is enjoyable to try and pass on what I know to the next generation. I like coaching track because it is a lot of individual efforts and a different style of coaching. Some of my more enjoyable moments from coaching though have been when one of the individuals I coach in the jumping events gets a distance or height they have never achieved before.”