By David A. Alpert

Sasha Vujic has been hired to assist the track long distance team for the remainder of the spring season.

Vujic, a native of Kusevac, formerly in Yugoslavia, applied for the vacant cross country head coach position last fall.

French teacher and Director of Financial Aid Geoffrey Bird coached the cross country team this season.

Vujic’s coaching highlights while at Burbank High School include a 6th place finish in the state meet for cross country in Division II in 2000 and an 8th place finish the following year after a move to Division I. 

As a runner, Vujic placed 8th in cross country Division II in 1989 and ran in the 1992 Olympic Trials and 1993 World Championships. 

“It’s a matter of building structure. A great program can’t be had without a strong found ation.  I think that’s why [Coach Jonas Koolsbergen] brought me in, because of my strong foundation,” Vujic said. 

Vujic works during the day as a adaptive physical education teacher for Los Angeles Unified School District going from school to school teaching kids with mental and physical disabilities.

“There’s definitely a lot of strong individuals. We have a chance to win CIF,” Vujic said.