Services for Coach Kenneth Nowicki, Coach Kno, have been set. visitation at West Heights 4-9 p.m. Wednesday

Funeral at 3 Thursday with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. United Funeral Services in New Albany is in charge of arrangements.

By REGINA BUTLER

Progress Staff Writer

News of the death of a former popular teacher and powerlifting coach at Pontotoc High School sent shock waves of disbelief throughout the county.

Kenneth Nowicki, known by most as “Coach Kno,” collapsed in the kitchen of his home and never regained consciousness.

News whipped out like a whirlwind and people were calling and confirming from all over the state.

The news saddened and stunned many as they learned of his untimely death.

“He was such a fine fella,” said Anne Jones.

By Tuesday morning, many of his former students were already posting pictures and sharing memories of him on Facebook.

The 46-year-old had an illustrious career at Pontotoc High School as a chemistry teacher and the premier powerlifting coach that took his team to world championships for two years straight.

One person who knew Coach Kno better than anyone was his former boss, Coach Tommy Morton, who was head football coach at Pontotoc High School.

“I left Pontotoc High School before he came into the football program, so I never had the opportunity to coach him,” Morton said.

“But I did hire him as an assistant coach when I came back over the program years later.

“I hired him because he was driven in his personal desire to do well. He paid attention to detail and that’s what coaching is all about. And he loved the game.”

Morton said while he was there Nowicki coached football “and he started the powerlifting program. And you [Progress] have well documented his successes there.”

Morton and Nowicki coached together at Pontotoc for five years “and then I left and went to ICC. He came on the science staff soon afterward so we worked together there also.”

And Nowicki paid Morton back for the favor in hiring him at PHS years before.

“He was the search committee chairman that brought me back to where I am today.”

Morton is head of the upward basketball program at West Heights.

Morton said that the former coach touched a myriad of lives spiritually, accepting Jesus as a young adult.

“Ken was searching like so many of us after we get to be adults without Christ.

“In his testimony he said he went driving looking for a preacher. He wound up in a black Methodist church and that is where he found the Lord.

“Once he became a Christian, he was driven in his resolve to share Christ with others.”

Morton said that we often speak of someone being a Christian at the end of their life.

“He was a guy that showed Jesus in the way he lived.”

Morton paused, and reflected on the truth of the past hours. “Today, I’ve felt like I need to pinch myself to really believe what has happened.

“He was a pretty serious kind of guy. I never saw him be frivolous in his humor. He dealt with people in such a way that people knew he cared.”

The breadth of Nowicki’s touch could be felt in the phone calls Morton fielded Monday.

“Everybody from college presidents to folks down on their luck have called here expressing shock and concern,” Morton said.

He paused and his voice choked up.

“I doubted very much anyone could love me but he did and I’ll miss him.”

OBITUARY

Kenneth Robert “Coach Kno” Nowicki, 46, died Monday, March 15, 2010. He was born Dec. 17, 1963, in Detroit, Mich., to Robert Anthony Nowicki and the late Rita Sulky Nowicki. He was a teacher at Itawamba Community College and a former coach. He was a Mason and a volunteer for Longview Fire Department. He was an active member of West Heights Baptist Church.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at West Heights Baptist Church in Pontotoc with Rev. David Hamilton, Rev. Dan Robertson, Rev. Stephen Evans and Rev. Dan Young officiating. Burial will be in Cruse Cemetery in Pontotoc. United Funeral Service of New Albany is in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include his wife, Melinda Patterson Nowicki; three daughters, Krystin Michelle Nowicki, Kayla Danielle Nowicki and Kensley Brielle Nowicki, all of Pontotoc; his father, Robert Nowicki of Pontotoc; one sister, Elaine O’Bannon (Tony) of Douglasville, Ga.; and one brother, David Delikta of Trenton, Mich.

Pallbearers will be William Stewart, Nick Floyd, Parco Golden, Chip Benjamin, Scott Robbins, Jason Cruse and Tommy Morton. Honorary pallbearers will be former Powerlifting Team members, Longview Volunteer Fire Department, Kim Faulkner, Brian Sansing, Chuck Robinson, Andy Tutor, R.V. Brown, Walter Zinn and Chuck Patrick.

Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. to service time Thursday at West Heights Baptist Church.

In honor of Mr. Nowicki, United Funeral Service will fly the Firemen's Flag during the visitation and service.

Memorials can be made to West Heights Baptist Church in memory of Ken Nowicki, 328 West Oxford St., Pontotoc, MS 38863.

For online condolences and guest registry, visit www.unitedfuneralservice.com.

Click here for story on Nowicki by Tim Tutor in sports. Click here for Mark Brock guest column remembering Nowicki.