GameAbove Sports Introduces A New Kovacs Institute-led Athletic Training Initiative
EMU men’s golf, women’s golf, and women’s tennis to benefit
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University Department of Athletics announced a GameAbove Sports-supported innovative partnership with the Kovacs Institute for Sport and Human Performance today, Nov. 14, to provide specialized training and performance optimization for men's golf, women's golf, and women's tennis. GameAbove Sports is a division of GameAbove, whose longstanding commitment to supporting EMU's athletic excellence continues to enhance opportunities for both its student-athletes and coaches.
"We are thrilled to partner with the Kovacs Institute, which has a proven track record of working with elite athletes across sports," said EMU Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee. "This collaboration will bring world-class coaching resources to EMU, providing our teams with unparalleled access to advanced training and performance insights that will empower them to reach new levels of achievement. We thank GameAbove Sports for bringing this wonderful opportunity to our student-athletes."
The Kovacs Institute, led by Dr. Mark Kovacs, is internationally recognized for its comprehensive, science-based approach to optimizing human performance in sports, business, and life. The institute serves as a "chief performance officer" for clients, tailoring strategies for four main groups: elite sport athletes, executive athletes, lifestyle athletes, and tennis athletes. With a background in performance physiology and sports science, Dr. Kovacs has trained numerous elite athletes, including professional tennis champions, NFL, MLB, and PGA Tour athletes, and top executives seeking to enhance their performance in all aspects of life.
Dr. Kovacs's extensive expertise includes leadership roles at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and the Gatorade Sports Science Institute. He is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). An NCAA doubles champion at Auburn University, he holds numerous certifications in strength and conditioning and tennis performance and has been a trusted advisor to more than two dozen top professional tennis players.
"We are very honored to partner with GameAbove Sports and be part of EMU Athletics," said Dr. Mark Kovacs, Founder of the Kovacs Institute. "In college sports today, there is so much emphasis on improving sports performance. Many sports programs do not know where to start on how to get it. At Kovacs Institute, our job is to help programs learn how to gain that edge through performance sciences. We're excited to help EMU expand their athletic development and can't wait to get started."
GameAbove Sports focuses on global sports business development, strategic investments, and empowering athletes. Though it is committed to expanding its strategic portfolio by investing in established teams, franchises, and leagues globally, GameAbove Sports extends its mission to EMU Athletics where applicable. In late spring 2024, the division introduced the concept of having the Kovacs Institute collaborate with EMU Athletics.
GameAbove President of EMU Partnership Chao Sun adds, "We're proud to support EMU athletics with this creative solution that complements the existing staff while also helping the programs reach new heights. We're grateful for Dr. Kovacs and the Kovacs Institute's willingness to be part of what we're helping to build at EMU."
GameAbove's generous support has consistently elevated the student-athlete experience at EMU. Since 2019, GameAbove has donated over $34.5 million to benefit the university and the greater community, supporting key initiatives in both academics and athletics. The GameAbove Golf Performance Center, a 13,000-square-foot training facility located at Eagle Crest Golf Course, is a testament to this ongoing commitment. Opened on Jan. 16, 2024, this state-of-the-art facility was made possible by an $8 million donation from GameAbove and offers unparalleled training resources, including indoor simulators, dedicated putting and chipping areas, and a specialized practice range.
Eagle Crest Golf Club, home to the GameAbove Golf Performance Center, was recently ranked No. 9 on Golf Pass Golfers' Choice 2024 list of the Top 25 College Golf Courses. The club's steady climb in rankings exemplifies EMU's dedication to fostering a premier golf experience for students and the public.
About GameAbove
GameAbove is a successful multifaceted brand consisting of charitable giving, capital investment, sports entertainment, and media ventures. It provides its portfolio companies the power to propel their business to the next level, fan and athlete experiences that aim to grow sports, and awe-inspiring cinematic experiences. Brands include GameAbove Capital, GameAbove Entertainment, GameAbove Sports, and GameAbove Giving. CapStone Holdings Inc. is the parent company of GameAbove. To learn more, visit GameAbove.com. Follow GameAbove on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn @GameAbove, X @Game_Above and YouTube @GameAbove.
About Eastern Michigan University Athletics
Eastern Michigan University has been a member of the Mid-American Conference since 1971 and has been among the league's most successful members. The Division I program boasts 158 MAC team championships, the most of any team in the league during that span. Eastern Michigan, which has had a representative at every summer Olympics since 1960, has won 15 team national championships and 55 individual national titles since 1932. For more information about Eastern Michigan Athletics, visit EMUEagles.com.
About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, EMU is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves nearly 13,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information, visit emich.edu.