Duncan Stevenson
DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT ATHLETICS, PIERCE COLLEGE
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Director, Northwest Athletic Conference Volleyball Championship Tournament
- 4 NWAC championships
- 31+ years as Director of District Athletics, Pierce College
- Two-time recipient of the Dutch Triebwasser Award, recognizing the outstanding athletic administrator in the NWAC
- Currently serving as the chairperson of the NWAC Executive Board
For Duncan, orchestrating events comes as second nature.
Though his office might appear to be not-so-organized chaos, Duncan’s intuitive attention to detail has helped him successfully coordinate Pierce College’s athletic program from the ground up, as well as the annual NWAC Volleyball Championships at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center.
Thanks to Duncan’s coordination background, “We’ve had to revise our approach only a few times in the four years we’ve been hosting the volleyball tournament.” Even during large and chaotic events, “It’s not rocket science.”
Duncan’s standard of achieving success in event coordination and programs makes him a legend in the Pierce athletics department and in the community.
“I have to have tough conversations with athletes when they’re no longer eligible to play,” Duncan said. Students often drop out of school when they’re unable to pursue what brought them to college.
Duncan uses these difficult situations as a platform to invest in his athletes, provide mentorship and give second chances. As Duncan sees it, “You can’t give up on them, even if they give up on themselves.” He’s willing to have the tough life conversations, because he is determined to help his athletes grow and be successful—even if success is not achieved by playing sports.
Duncan attends all home games and stays up-to-date with the athletes in the program. As a result of Duncan’s personal investment in their lives, several former athletes are now on the Pierce College staff.
Duncan’s approach has even brought some students back. He tells the story of a student who dropped out of school after failing to meet academic eligibility. That same student came back a few years later, asking if he could rejoin the team as he continued to pursue his education.
Without hesitation, Duncan let him back on the team.
After three decades at Pierce College, he’s here to stay in the South Sound.