Biography:

    Dr. Istvan Kovacs is an Assistant Professor in the Physical Education Department at Slippery Rock University. He received his B.S. both in Physical Education and Coaching at the Hungarian University of Physical Education, and earned his Master of Education degree in Physical Education at the same institution. He completed his doctoral studies and received Ph.D. title in biomechanics at Eotvos University in 2001.  

   Before joining SRU in 2003, Dr. Kovacs spent two years teaching physical education in high school and ten years teaching in the Physical Education Teacher Education program as well as coaching Track and Field at his alma mater, HUPE.  

   Currently he teaches a variety of courses such as Introduction to Teaching Physical Education, Net/Wall Games, Lifetime/Leisure Activities and Games, Personal Physical Fitness, Tennis, Badminton, and Racquetball.  

   A research area of interest is biomechanics: mechanical characterisitics of muscle contractions and movement analysis related to teaching movement skills.  

   As an athlete, Dr. Kovacs was a triple jumper for the Hungarian National Track Team.  Currently he enjoys riding his bicycle, playing volleyball, tennis, badminton, racquetball, ping-pong and soccer.

Courses:

PE 107 Aquatic Fundamentals

PE 342 Wellness Through Movement

PE 356 Net/Wall Games

PE 703 Developmental Training Theory For Coaching Adolescents 

Education:

Ph.D

Biology/Biomechanics

Eötvös University, Budapest, Hungary

Dissertation title:

‘The effect of different jumping situations and techniques on the kinematics and kinetics of the lower limb’

2001

M.E.

Physical Education

Hungarian University of Physical Education, Budapest, Hungary.

Masters Thesis Title:

‘Biomechanical analysis of elite long jumpers’ takeoff’

1990

B.S.

Coaching

Hungarian University of Physical Education, Budapest, Hungary

Thesis:

‘Computer-aided training planning in Track and Field

1995

Slippery Rock University: Since 2003

Years in Education:  18

Office Location:

128D Morrow Fieldhouse

Slippery Rock, PA 16057

Phone:  (724) 738-4934

Fax:  (724) 738-2921

E-mail: istvan.kovacs@sru.edu