Michael Joseph Holovak (September 19, 1919 – January 27, 2008) was an American football player, coach, and executive.

After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he played in the National Football League (NFL) with the Rams in 1946, who had moved to Los Angeles, then with the Chicago Bears in 1947 and 1948.

After a year at Seton Hall, Holovak was offered a scholarship to play at Fordham, where his brother was a star player.

However, when Fordham assistant Frank Leahy got the head coaching job at Boston College, Holovak chose to play for BC instead.

[5] He became the varsity starter at fullback his sophomore year after Frank Davis quit football before the start of the season.

[9] The Eagles entered the final game of the season as the top-ranked team, but were upset by arch-rival Holy Cross 55–12 at Fenway Park, a defeat that canceled a victory party that night at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub.

That decision proved to be chillingly profound when a horrendous fire swept through the building that night with 492 fatalities and hundreds more injured.

[10] In the 1943 Orange Bowl, Holovak rushed for 158 yards and scored all three of Boston College's touchdowns in their 37–21 loss to Alabama.

[16] In 1945, Holovak returned to the Melville Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Training Center and coached the installation's football team.

[17] On October 20, the Melville PT Raiders lost to the Army Cadets football team 55–13 at Michie Stadium.

[26] On November 16, 1959, Boston business executive Billy Sullivan was awarded the eighth and final franchise of the developing American Football League.

[34][35] The team slipped to 4–8–2 in 1965, but rebounded into contention the next season with the addition of rookie running back Jim Nance.

Needing only a victory in their final game against the New York Jets on December 17 to reach the AFL title contest, the Patriots instead saw their season end with a 38–28 upset loss.

[36] Despite missing the playoffs, Holovak was named UPI American Football League Coach of the Year and rewarded with a contract extension.

As in his previous stint at Boston College, Holovak saw growing fan discontent, including chants of "Goodbye Mike", play a role in the decision.

[39] After two years with the 49ers, Holovak remained in the Bay Area by accepting the post of receivers coach with the Raiders on March 6, 1971.

[54] Their younger daughter, Terry Ann, was killed in a car crash shortly after graduating from high school.