Lessons learned in the Marines help Koziak in his football coaching career

By Nate Dugener
LocalSportsJournal.com

NORTON SHORES–Mike Koziak, a 2000 graduate of Mona Shores, has a long, storied career both in the Marine Corps as well as the Muskegon, Muskegon Heights, and Mona Shores athletic communities.

Koziak served in the United States Marine Corps for six years. That included a combat tour in Fallujah, Iraq in 2006 and 2007. Mike served in the infantry for four years as a mortarman before transitioning to a rifleman. Most of Mike’s career was spent in the Marine Corps Reserves.

During his career in the Marine Corps, Mike began his coaching career at Muskegon High School as the wide receivers and defensive back coach for the freshmen in 2004. A year later, he became the defensive back coach at Muskegon Heights for the varsity squad.

In 2008, Mike transitioned back to Muskegon as an assistant for a year. After a break from coaching from 2009-2015, Mike became involved as coach for the Mona Shores Youth Football Club and volunteered his time as a board member and a game day assistant for Mona Shores. In 2020 and 2021, Mike became the offensive coordinator for the freshman team at Mona Shores. A year later, Koziak moved up to become the jayvee coach for the Sailors.

Away from the playing field, Koziak co-owns Green Line Security Solutions, a security company that provides security needs from entry level security guards to executive protection.

Koziak’s military experience has helped shape his coaching style.

“I think football is the ultimate team sport,” Koziak said. “The Marines taught me how a team is supposed to operate under the most stressful and chaotic circumstances and how to be a part of something bigger then myself. It also taught me how you always have a little more to give even if you think you don’t.”

Mike has been married to his wife, Jennifer, since 2005. Mike and Jennifer are the parents of Carsen, Riley, and Braden Koziak.

“In football and in life, bad times come and go,” he said. “How you handle yourself in those bad times is what will define you.”

Thank you Mike Koziak for your service in the Marine Corps and as a football coach in the Muskegon area.