Early years Ken Novak was born July 3, 1954 in
Willowick, Ohio, a suburb of
Cleveland, where he attended Saint Mary Magdalene grade school. He went to
St. Joseph High School, a private preparatory school in suburban Cleveland, where he earned six athletic letters participating in football,
basketball, and
track and field. He was the Ohio State
discus champion in 1972, recording a throw of 179–6.
College career He received an athletic scholarship from
Purdue University where he became a standout defensive lineman. During his three years of varsity eligibility —
1973,
1974, and
1975 — Novak started in 31 of 33 games, making a total of 229 tackles, including 87 during his senior year. He remained a
free agent until signed by the
Cleveland Browns on December 15 of that year — just two days before the final game of the season, in which he did not play. The Browns released Novak on August 6, 1979, and he was claimed the next day on
waivers by the
Minnesota Vikings. He did not report, however, and was on retired reserve for the entire
1979 NFL season. He was reinstated on May 20, 1980, but did not play in the NFL again. ==References==