Heritage Association Spotlight: Colich Family
July 05, 2017 | Track & Field, Trojan Athletic Fund, USC Ripsit Blog, Features
The Heritage Association Spotlight was created to profile USC student-athlete alumni who have given back to the university.
For John and Janine Colich, the Trojan Family extends farther and wider than most could imagine.
Both graduated from USC, where John was a thrower on the track & field team from 1967-71. Between the two of them, they estimate that at least 20 or 25 family members have attended USC, from parents to siblings, children, nieces and nephews.
They've also remained dedicated supporters of USC's track & field program, becoming so close to the coaches and student-athletes that they treat them like family. To help those student-athletes and to honor John's father, Don -- who trained but never competed as a thrower at USC -- they've undertaken a number of projects to improve the Trojans' athletic facilities.
Don Colich built the original track & field weight room in the basement of the physical education building in 1966, and in his name, John and Janine built a new and improved one that opened earlier this year. The new one, located in USC's Marks Tennis Stadium, is nicknamed "The Dungeon," just like the original.
"This is the best throwers' weight room in the country," said USC track & field throwing coach Dan Lange. "Nobody has anything like this."
John explained that he feels compelled to give back to the track & field program because Verne Wolfe -- the head coach from 1963-84 -- gave him a half scholarship to attend USC.
"I didn't deserve it," Colich says. "I wasn't that good. But he gave it to me anyway. So that's one of the reasons why I want to give back to the school."
John and Janine also helped build a plaza for USC's track & field team at Loker Stadium. Unbeknownst to them, their children dedicated a plaque in John's name.
In addition, the Colich family name adorns a wall at USC's Merle Norman Stadium, and will soon appear on the new track & field offices that John is planning to help construct.
John and Janine have also extended their Trojan Family to include the "Road Warriors," a group of USC men's basketball fans that travel to each away game.
"The guys that make up the Road Warriors -- we went to a game and they asked us to join the group. That was about 10 years ago. Now, they're in their 80s, or almost 80s. We were the youngest by far, and now we're becoming on the older side as time goes."
John's involvement with the basketball team increased when he became a mentor to two recent Trojan hoops stars: Nikola Jovanovic and Strahinja "Luis" Gavrilovic (pictured). Colich, who has Serbian heritage just like Jovanovic and Gavrilovic, gave academic and career advice to these two Trojans, and still talks to them frequently.
Colich has also mentored Natasa Siljkovic of USC sand volleyball, Marta Siemiatkowska of USC women's indoor volleyball and Andreas Bezamat-Homer of USC men's track & field over the years, and thinks of them all as family.
"Of all the things I've done at USC," Colich said, "That's the thing I'm most proud of."
Â
If you are a member of the USC student-athlete alumni community, or would like more information about the Heritage Association, please click here!
For John and Janine Colich, the Trojan Family extends farther and wider than most could imagine.
Both graduated from USC, where John was a thrower on the track & field team from 1967-71. Between the two of them, they estimate that at least 20 or 25 family members have attended USC, from parents to siblings, children, nieces and nephews.
They've also remained dedicated supporters of USC's track & field program, becoming so close to the coaches and student-athletes that they treat them like family. To help those student-athletes and to honor John's father, Don -- who trained but never competed as a thrower at USC -- they've undertaken a number of projects to improve the Trojans' athletic facilities.
Don Colich built the original track & field weight room in the basement of the physical education building in 1966, and in his name, John and Janine built a new and improved one that opened earlier this year. The new one, located in USC's Marks Tennis Stadium, is nicknamed "The Dungeon," just like the original.
"This is the best throwers' weight room in the country," said USC track & field throwing coach Dan Lange. "Nobody has anything like this."
John explained that he feels compelled to give back to the track & field program because Verne Wolfe -- the head coach from 1963-84 -- gave him a half scholarship to attend USC.
"I didn't deserve it," Colich says. "I wasn't that good. But he gave it to me anyway. So that's one of the reasons why I want to give back to the school."
John and Janine also helped build a plaza for USC's track & field team at Loker Stadium. Unbeknownst to them, their children dedicated a plaque in John's name.
In addition, the Colich family name adorns a wall at USC's Merle Norman Stadium, and will soon appear on the new track & field offices that John is planning to help construct.
John and Janine have also extended their Trojan Family to include the "Road Warriors," a group of USC men's basketball fans that travel to each away game.
"The guys that make up the Road Warriors -- we went to a game and they asked us to join the group. That was about 10 years ago. Now, they're in their 80s, or almost 80s. We were the youngest by far, and now we're becoming on the older side as time goes."John's involvement with the basketball team increased when he became a mentor to two recent Trojan hoops stars: Nikola Jovanovic and Strahinja "Luis" Gavrilovic (pictured). Colich, who has Serbian heritage just like Jovanovic and Gavrilovic, gave academic and career advice to these two Trojans, and still talks to them frequently.
Colich has also mentored Natasa Siljkovic of USC sand volleyball, Marta Siemiatkowska of USC women's indoor volleyball and Andreas Bezamat-Homer of USC men's track & field over the years, and thinks of them all as family.
"Of all the things I've done at USC," Colich said, "That's the thing I'm most proud of."
Â
If you are a member of the USC student-athlete alumni community, or would like more information about the Heritage Association, please click here!
USC WR Tanook Hines | USC defeats Michigan State, 45-31
Sunday, September 21
USC Football vs Michigan State Post Game Press Conference | Trojans Win 45-31
Sunday, September 21
USC DE Braylan Shelby | USC defeats Michigan State, 45-31
Sunday, September 21
USC SNP Hank Pepper | USC defeats Michigan State, 45-31
Sunday, September 21
