DeSales University Athletics

Hank Kowaleski was a two-sport star for DeSales in the athletic program’s earliest days, playing on the school’s soccer and baseball teams during their first three years.

Kowaleski was named the DeSales University Male Athlete of the Year in 1971. He led the baseball team in home runs and RBI’s all three seasons he played, and in batting average his junior year. In soccer, he recorded five assists in one game in the 1971 season. Kowaleski also played four years of intramural football and basketball and three years of intramural volleyball and softball.

Kowaleski retired from teaching in 2002 after teaching for 17 years in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, 22 years for the Philadelphia School District and 10 years at Camden County (N.J.) College. He was the coordinator of GED testing in the Philadelphia prison system for 12 years.

Kowaleski stayed involved in sports through his parish CYO, where he spent three years as president. He coached girls’ basketball for 18 years and girls’ soccer for three years. He refereed football in the Philadelphia area for 14 years.