Duncan Stevenson

DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT ATHLETICS, PIERCE COLLEGE

At A Glance

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

Why I Love the Sport

“Sports have been in my blood since a very early age. I grew up playing baseball and jumped into basketball in junior high. Both have been a huge influence in my life.”

From Catering to Athletics

When he accepted the invitation to direct Pierce College’s athletic program, Duncan had no experience overseeing a college athletic department. But he did have an extensive background in operations for high-end catering events and college food service operations.

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.

Building Athletes Through Mentorship

The job of an athletic director is not always as easy as coordinating an event.

“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.

Mountain, City or Sea?

Duncan’s passion for both the mountains and the sea comes from his many years of camping when he was younger, and his lifelong love for sailing. “They’re both embedded in my soul.”

After three decades at Pierce College, he’s here to stay in the South Sound.