Born on July 10, 1992 in Columbus, Ohio, Kostadinos "Kosta" Alexander Karageorge was noted by his parents as being a very big infant. He grew up in the Greek Orthodox tradition in The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral church. He grew up to become known for his size and strength on the wrestling mat, going on to become an All-American at Junior Nationals for and placed 6th in the state tournament his senior year of high school.
As an athlete, he experienced 15 reported concussions; however, he is suspected of having experienced many more than 15, especially considering his history of concussions before college. Controversy over his suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on November 30, 2014 as a possible result from chronic traumatic encephalopathy became apparent in June 2016 after a New York Times article found that samples of his brain did in fact show signs of stage 1 CTE after examination by Dr. , a Boston University neuropathologist at the , in conflict with the original findings from coroner Dr. in consultation with Ohio State University's Dr. . However, Dr. Ann McKee did note that stage 1 typically does not result in the types of neurological disturbances and behaviors experienced by Kosta Karageorge. Questions remain as to the health care of collegiate athletes and how athletes are often restricted to using college health care facilities, which due to large patient loads and high physician turnover, may miss crucial developments in their patients' care, even at highly regarded institutions. There have been documented conflicts of interest by training and coaching staff, and suggestions of such conflicts even with the NCAA, when deciding to pull an athlete from practice or games, and pressures to maintain one's position have also affected athletes' decisions to disclose injury. Karageorge was remembered by the student body in a candlelight vigil, which took place on Ohio State University's , next to a statue of university presidentWilliam Oxley Thompson, where remembrance ceremonies are traditionally held by the student body. Students gathered there in the evening of November 30, 2014 after he was found. Ohio State University football team members served as Karageorge's pallbearers and included his jersey number as a helmet sticker in the game against Wisconsin.
