Mission Hires Klitsner as Director of Athletics

Mission College President Dr. Adriana Barrera officially gave the green light to bring sports back to the Sylmar campus by hiring John Klitsner as director of athletics. Klitsner served as athletic director from 1993 until 1997, when the college discontinued its athletic program for financial reasons.

“I’m excited,” said Klitsner, who was baseball coach from 1988-95. “It’s a great thing. The college is in need of more extracurricular activities.”

Barrera said the school plans to field baseball, softball and two other sports, either men’s and women’s cross-country or men’s and women’s soccer, in the 2002-03 school year. She said $33,000 has been allocated for Klitsner to pay coaches, who will almost surely be part-time hires.

Barrera estimates $100,000 to $150,000 will be needed to fund the four sports and it must be raised by July 1, 2002, the date of the next fiscal year.

“I was very clear with John that one of his jobs is to establish next year’s budget,” she said.