Mike Koken

Notre Dame He played college football at Notre Dame from 1929 to 1932. Koken was known as being small and elusive. In 1931, The South Bend Tribune wrote: "Little Mike Koken was a swirling, twisting, elusive demon taking the ball for long gains time after time. He ran hard and low and several times it took two and three tacklers to bring him down." He suffered three cracked vertebrae in a 1931 game against Navy, but returned to the Notre Dame backfield in 1932.

Professional football In 1933, he played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Cardinals. He started the season at quarterback and was moved to halfback in November. He appeared in nine NFL games, four as a starter. He totaled 74 passing yards and one passing touchdown, 65 rushing yards, and kicked an extra point.

He worked for Tucker Freight Lines of South Bend, Indiana, from 1938 until his death in 1962.

He later sustained serious injuries while fighting in France in August 1944. He died of a heart attack at age 53 while at the South Bend Country Club.