Martinko makes 'hall' in Denmark

The Campbell native led the Copenhagen Towers to three national titles.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- John Martinko, a native of Campbell who now lives in Boardman, spent the greater part of his football career as a player and coach in the Youngstown area.
He played football at Campbell Memorial (1948-49-50) for coach John Knapick and Youngstown College (1953-54-55) for Dwight "Dike" Beede. He coached 10 years at North High (1956-66), including the last two years as head coach; and was assistant coach at Campbell Memorial (1967-74) for Tony Cougras.
But one of his biggest achievements occurred during retirement in Denmark and began by sheer coincidence.
In the process, he became a pioneer of American football in Europe and a goodwill ambassador for his country.
Martinko, who found success coaching the Copenhagen Towers of the Danish American Football Federation for four years (1991-94), was rewarded for his accomplishments by being inducted into the first DAFF Hall of Fame in February in Copenhagen.
Over the four-year span, Martinko guided the Towers to a 42-4 overall record and three straight national championships (1992-94).
He was one of 11 persons enshrined by the league which is in its 20th year of existence.
Super Bowl Party
The induction took place Feb. 5 at DAFF's Super Bowl Party in Copenhagen, more than 11 years after Martinko's final 1994 season.
The banquet was sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce in Denmark, Marriott and Microsoft.
The inscription on the plaque that Martinko received reads: "John Martinko laid the foundation for the first Danish [American] football Dynasty. His uncompromising football style and methods still influence the players he coached."
It was a memorable event for Martinko, who remained in Denmark for 10 more years after his final season before returning home.
"Can you imagine that I last coached there [12] years ago and that they remembered me?" said Martinko. "I left [Denmark] in 2004. I was there for 14 years. The fact that they remember everything that I did is a good feeling.
"They said some nice things about me after 12 years."
He also was impressed that many of his players attended the banquet.
Unplanned adventure
Martinko, whose records with the Towers were 6-1 in 1991, 13-0 in 1992, 12-2 in 1993 and 11-1 in 1994, recalled how his adventure unfolded.
"I just went [to Denmark] to retire. This all happened by coincidence. The coaching position just happened to open up while I was there. I heard from some friends that they knew the team needed a coach and that's how I got involved," said Martinko, noting that the popularity of American football in Denmark has taken off.
"They had about 30 teams when I first started. They have about 70 [now] across the country in all divisions. Football is becoming the second fastest growing sport in Denmark after golf."
He said that when he was in Denmark, football "was not even accepted by the national association of sports, [but] now the national sports association is starting to give money to develop football.
"They have two NFL games on [TV] Sundays and that's what's pushing it."
Played internationally
Martinko also recalled that "it was unheard of that Danish football would be playing international teams. "We [did play] international football at that time. We beat the Russian Czars [in 1992]."
The Towers also placed second in the Scandinavian Cup in 1993 and fifth in the Euro Bowl in 1994.
Martinko said his biggest challenge coaching players in Denmark was "to get them away from NFL football. We had to get them back to the fundamentals and teach blocking and tackling and the basic fundamentals and organization."
He pointed out that all sports in Denmark are club sports.
"There are no sports in schools. Everything is outside the school system," he said.
kovach@vindy.com