Homecoming festivities at Chaminade High School in West Hills Oct. 22 were extra special since they occurred on the school's new synthetic turf playing field. During pre-homecoming football game ceremonies, the field was officially dedicated and named in honor of former coach, John Vukelich, who attended the event along with fellow coaches from the '50s.

As athletic director from 1956-61, Vukelich coached football, basketball, baseball and track. He is credited with leading the 1956 Eagle varsity football team to its first victory, ending a drought of three winless seasons. Vukelich, a college football star at Illinois University and former Cleveland Indians baseball team member, also coached Chaminade's varsity basketball team to its first CIF playoff berth in 1959.