Chris Byland - Assistant Director (WRES, S&D) - Swimming & Diving Support Staff

Chris Byland

Title:
Assistant Director (WRES, S&D)
Email:
csb20@pitt.edu
Phone:
412-648-7869

Chris Byland joined the ASSSA staff in 2006 and currently serves as its Assistant Director, in addition to the Academic Counselor for Pitt’s Wrestling and Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving teams. During his tenure, he oversaw several teams that earned the Highest Team Grade Point Average and Most Improved awards, in addition to serving on the Facilities Master Plan and Strategic Master Plan Committees and Honors and Awards Committee.

Prior to his time with the University of Pittsburgh, Byland coached football at Baldwin High School and at his alma mater Juniata College. After earning his bachelor’s degree in 1998, he served in numerous roles both inside and outside the football program at Juniata including Assistant Football Coach, Residence Director, Assistant Track Coach, and Summer Conferences and Events Liaison.

He earned his master’s in Student Personnel Services from the University of Pittsburgh in 2002.

A native of Bradford, Pa., Byland currently resides in Baldwin with his wife, Lauren, and his son, Callen.

Beyond the Bio
Favorite sports moment at Pitt?
This is a tough one since I’ve been a Pitt fan my whole life so there are so many great ones, but I’ll narrow it down to two:
The first is when my Dad took me to my first game at Pitt Stadium in November 1982. We trounced Rutgers and Dan Marino played Quarterback. I was 6 years old and from then on, the Panthers were my team.
The second would be in February of 2010 when the wrestling team won our first conference championship in front of a sold out crowd at Fitzgerald Field House. Coach Stottlemyer and I were very good friends so it was a great feeling to see him finally win a championship after being close so many times through the years. He was a truly great coach and an even better person, and I really miss him.

What is your favorite aspect of working in Pitt’s athletic department?
Growing up a Pitt fan, this is a dream job. I get the opportunity to be up close and personal with all the teams I followed as a kid and to be around college sports every day. It doesn’t get any better than that!