VILLA HILLS, Ky. — John Popovich’s lifelong love of sports never translated into actual skill, he joked Wednesday, but it did help him build a career spanning more than four decades in a field he’d dreamed of joining since childhood.
It also earned him a new badge of recognition: Membership in the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame, which recognized him for “faithful, conscientious and loyal service in the furthering and promoting of athletics” at a Wednesday evening ceremony in the Villa Hills Civic Club.
“I’ve been blessed with a wonderful career,” Popovich said. “Getting honored in Northern Kentucky today was surprising and satisfying. It has been a hotbed of so many great athletes and championship teams over the years, so just to be mentioned in the same breath was a big honor.”
Also inducted into the hall of fame were swimmer and Notre Dame Academy graduate Emily Brunemann; former Northern Kentucky University basketball coach Ken Shields; Beechwood football coach Noel Rash; former Newport Central Catholic athlete (and current Fox 19 news anchor) Tricia Macke; Holy Cross’ Jerry Maher; Campbell County graduate David Combs and Boone County High School graduate Justin Rahschulte.
