After graduating from high school, Makowski attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where he played on the men's soccer team from 1974 to 1977.
His sophomore year, the Cougars went to the NCAA championship game only to fall to San Francisco.
He also finished his four seasons with the Cougars in thirty-second place on the school's career scoring record with seventeen goals and ten assists.
Makowski failed to attain his degree during his four years playing at Southern Illinois, but he continued to work toward it and was awarded a B.S.
In 1980, he joined the expansion St. Louis Steamers of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL).
However, Makowski and his teammates were prevented from competing when President Carter boycotted the games after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.