Jul 31, 2017 4 min read

PALO ALTO, Calif. – As Chris Dountas leans back in the chair at his desk, he grins as he appears to daydream.

Yes, Dountas is living his dream.

The California University graduate was hired by Stanford in May last year as the Pacific 12 Conference school’s Assistant Athletic Director-Equipment Manager.

“Had someone told me that I would be working in the athletic department at Stanford, I would have probably laughed,” he said. “From Cal to Cali, I am fortunate.”

Dountas earned a bachelor’s degree in science and sports management from Cal in 2003, and he often wondered what it would be like to work for a big-time sports program.

With Stanford, the Mechanicsburg native has several roles, including managing and supervising the operations of the equipment department. He oversees eight employees, is responsible for an annual department operating budget of more than $110,000 and a Nike contract worth more than $1.9 million.

Dountas must plan and allocate funds for all teams and departments covered by the Nike contract, coordinate daily in-house laundry services for more than 950 student-athletes and 250 staff members and coaches.

Because another of Dountas’ tasks is to oversee all equipment travel and shipping logistics for the Stanford football team’s away games, Dountas will be heading to Australia for the Cardinal’s season opener against Rice in Sydney Australia, Aug. 26.

“It is exciting to be going over there,” Dountas said. “It also means we have a lot of extra work to do earlier, but it comes with the territory. I am ready to get the (football) season rolling.”

After graduating from Cal, Dountas drove armored trucks before taking a one-year internship at the University of Central Florida. He was then hired by the University of Connecticut, where he served as the Assistant Director of Equipment Services for four months before being hired by the University of Pittsburgh as the Assistant Equipment Manager.

“After my internship was over, I was very fortunate to get my first full-time job at UConn. After my short stint there, a position opened at Pitt,” he said.

Dountas was promoted in September of 2008 to Pitt’s Director of Equipment Services.

Dountas, who was known as “Donut” in high school and college, held that position until he left for Stanford.

“After a little over 10 years at Pitt, I was very, very fortunate to be hired at Stanford,” he said. “I love what I do, and it is very rewarding to see student-athletes come in as freshmen and leave after putting in four to five successful years.

“Not every one of our athletes will go on to play professional sports, so to see them graduate and move onto being successful in something other than athletics is great.”

Dountas admits that even though he earned a science and sports management degree, he did not expect to end up working at a prestigious university like Stanford.

“I honestly got into this career by accident and have been very fortunate to do something that I love every day,” he said. “I am fortunate. From an equipment manager standpoint, Stanford is one of the best in the country and one of the bigger athletic departments in the country.”

Ron Seily, the athletics practice fields foreman at Cal, reflects fondly on Dountas’ time with the Vulcans.

“I am so proud of him and his success,” Seily said. “Even when he was young, he took charge of things and is a natural leader.”

During a private tour of the Stanford athletic facilities and the campus , Dountas gave an inside look at how things run, showed the impressive football locker rooms and other stellar facilities.

Senior Associate AD and CFO Brian Talbott shared his thoughts on Dountas.

“Chris has hired an almost new staff since he got here and he has brought a level on control and professionalism as well,” Stanford Senior Associated Athletic Director and Chief Financial Officer Brian Talbott said. “He is really enhancing the support for the Olympic sports and that has been a game-changer for a lot of our sports.”

Dountas admits he is fortunte to work at one of the most beautiful college campuses in the country.

“I may be living a dream,” he said.