Ćosić, Krešimir, 1948-1995

Krešimir Ćosić (1948-1995) was an Yugoslavian Olympic basketball player. He was an influential member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Yugoslavia.

Krešimir Ćosić was born November 26, 1948 in Zagreb. He attended Brigham Young University (BYU) in the 1970s, playing basketball for the University from 1971 to 1973. While at BYU he converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and became an influencial member of the Church upon his return to Yugoslavia. He was the first foreign player to earn All-American honors from the United Press International, in 1972 and 1973. After graduating college, he rejected several professional offers and returned home to Yugoslavia. He represented Yugoslavia in the Olympic games of 1968, 1972, 1976, and 1980, and led Yugoslavia to World Championship gold medals in 1970 and 1978. Ćosić later became a basketball coach for the Yugoslav national team. He died May 25, 1995 in Washington, D.C. while living there as a Croatian diplomat.