Central hires new athletic director

Joshua Wise to replace the retiring Sandy Noujaim.

After serving 9 years as the athletic director for Central Union High School, Sandy Noujaim is set to retire.

Under her tenure, the Spartans sports program has made great strides; especially in football and softball.

As Noujaim's official retirement date is June 3rd, the search for her replacement was on until Tuesday night, when the Central Union High School District board approved Joshua Wise as the school's next A.D.

Wise is native to the Imperial Valley, where he grew up near Brawley and thrived as a student athlete as a Wildcat before playing college football at Mayville State University in North Dakota.

Upon returning to the Valley after his collegiate career was done, Wise would go on to teach and coach athletics at Calipatria High School.

That would lead him to eventually become the school's athletic director, where he would gain valuable experience that would set him up for the opportunity at Central.

News 11 Sports caught up with Wise, who credits Noujaim for helping him get his start:

"She helped me become an athletic director of Calipat and until this day, she still gives me guidance and I got some big shoes to fill. I mean, Sandy, she's a voice. She's the spokesperson for the athletics side of Central."

"It's gonna be a different journey for me, but I'm ready for the challenge and I know I have Sandy to work there, to help me out through the whole process."