Michael Kokat sells business to support son at North Dakota State

In a sea of green and gold at North Dakota State University football games, a flash of bright orange has become a familiar fixture in the stands. For Michael Kokat and his family, supporting his son, Luke, has meant logging an estimated 65,000 miles across the country.

The cross-country journey reflects the realities of modern collegiate athletics travel, as families manage packed schedules, time off work, and substantial logistics to follow their student-athletes. For the Kokat family, the decision to commit fully to the team’s schedule came down to a life-changing choice made during Luke’s sophomore year.

Selling a Business to Follow Bison Nation

Michael Kokat sold his business in Wisconsin to remove the daily stress of work and commit fully to following the North Dakota State football program. Rather than balancing job demands with a rigorous game schedule, the family chose to dive headfirst into the collegiate sports routine.

Michael Kokat has traveled an estimated 65,000 miles to support his son, NDSU senior fullback Luke Kokat, and become part of the Bison family. Read more: https://t.co/5SE9jiBetn pic.twitter.com/F93e7p7Yy9

— https://x.com/wahpetondaily/status/2115225586402537735

“We decided when we really got serious about football, Luke’s sophomore year, that we are going to sell and we are going to take away all the stress, and we are going to follow Bison Nation,” Michael Kokat said. “We did that and it has been awesome and we’re trying to savor every last minute because when it is gone I might cry.”

The travel routine involves driving to every home game and flying to every away game. Over five years following the program into its Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) era, the family has built deep connections within the university’s sports community.

“I realized Bison Nation is a family, and I said I am so comfortable with my kid coming here,” Michael Kokat said.

The Perspective From the Field

For Luke Kokat, seeing his father’s bright orange apparel in the stands provides a reliable anchor during games.

“Where ever we are, at whatever stadium we are in, when Luke comes out, he can look up and see where his family is at,” Michael Kokat said. “That’s why I wear it. I wear it for him.”

Luke acknowledged the scale of the sacrifices made by his parents over years of athletic competition spanning middle school, high school, and the collegiate level.

“It’s kind of crazy that you think about the amount of time that they travel and the amount of time that they take off work. It’s something I really appreciate from them,” Luke said.

Away from the action on the field, Michael Kokat often spends time handing out Bison playing cards to children in the crowd. Describing the interactions, he noted that the gesture is intended simply to bring a smile to someone’s face.

“Now the tables have turned. He’s my hero,” Michael said, pointing to the tenacity, determination, and toughness his son displays. While he considers returning to football coaching after Luke completes his playing career at North Dakota State, Michael Kokat confirmed he intends to remain a Bison fan for life.