Scott Novak, the dean of southwestern Michigan sportswriting for 40 years, died Oct. 23 at 63.

Southwestern Michigan College’s final home volleyball game Oct. 29, a 3-1 win over the Glen Oaks Vikings, began with a moment-of-silence tribute, his visage smiling down from the video scoreboard.

Novak got his start at SMC as sports editor of the campus newspaper, The Southwester, in 1981.

He was inducted into the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Honor in 2022 upon the nomination of another Roadrunner, Brandywine girls basketball coach Josh Hood.

Scott was a Roadrunner for life and as excited as a kid on Christmas morning when intercollegiate athletics returned after a 25-year hiatus. He covered SMC teams that included the 1994 women‘s basketball national champions, and many Steve’s Runs.

“Telling Scott that the Roadrunners were coming back will always be a highlight of my time here,” President Dr. Joe Odenwald said. “I knew he'd be overjoyed, and there was such a sense of returning to those glory days he covered so well.

“I'll deeply miss our conversations on the baseline, particularly discussing the refs,” Odenwald said. “Scott often donned the SMC cap I gave him at the announcement that the ‘birds were back.’ We've lost a fan and a great journalist.”

Like the versatile professional he became, Novak covered SMC golf, men’s basketball and volleyball, but also wrote straight news and photographed two stage productions, “Finian’s Rainbow” and “The Mad Woman of Chaillot.”

Local sports were his passion no matter how many state and national events he covered.

He took great pride in showing up for local sports programs no matter how successful the season and became an honorary member of not only his hometown Chieftains’ fan club, but also the Bobcats, Bucks, Vikings, Rangers and Eddies.

He relished reminding young athletes of their parents’ glory days he witnessed.

His reporting, feature writing and columns won him and Leader Publications’ newspapers dozens of awards through the Michigan Press Association, Michigan High School Athletic Association, the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan and the Associated Press.
Scott developed friendships with coaches, officials, athletic directors and athletes at every level. He knew Volleyball Head Coach Jenny Nate and Wrestling Head Coach Todd Hesson going back to Niles.

A service celebrating Scott’s life takes place Saturday, Nov. 2, at First United Methodist Church, 326 N. Lowe St., Dowagiac, with visitation from noon until service time at 4 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the donor’s local sports organization. Arrangements were entrusted to Clark Chapel – Starks Family Funeral Homes, Dowagiac.