Washington State University Athletics
WSU Athletics Communications Director Retires After 21 Years
June 05, 2026 | WSU Athletics
Bill Stevens, Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Strategic Communications, joined WSU Athletics in 2005.
PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Strategic Communications Bill Stevens has retired after 21 years working in the Cougars' athletic communications department.
ÂStevens came to WSU as sports information assistant director in August 2005 and since that time, served as the director, assistant athletic director, and beginning in 2014, associate athletic director for athletic communications. Stevens was responsible for the overall communications strategy for the athletic department, working primarily as the communications contact for football along many other Cougar sports and more recently, served as the sport administrator for men's golf and women's tennis.
Â
"Bill has made an incredible impact on his colleagues, the community, and quite literally thousands of Cougar student-athletes," WSU Vice President and Director of Athletics, Jon Haarlow said. "He made everyone around him better and has been an absolute institution for WSU Athletics. Â I'm so grateful for his tremendous contributions to this University and excited for this next chapter for him and his family. I'll miss our daily conversations, but I am looking forward to seeing Bill at many Cougar Athletic events in the future."Â
 Â
In his 21 years working at WSU, Stevens worked with five athletic directors, seven head football coaches including Mike Leach (2012-19) along with 10 bowl games and the 2018 visit from ESPN College GameDay. Stevens also worked closely with the Pac-12 Conference, was the media contact for the men's and women's basketball NCAA Tournaments hosted by Washington State in Spokane (2005-26), helped cover the baseball NCAA Regional trips in 2009, 2010 and 2026 and hosted a number NCAA and Pac-12 Conference golf and swimming championships in Pullman and Seattle.
Â
In 2022, Stevens received the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication Hall of Achievement award, recognizing outstanding accomplishments of alumni and those impacting the Murrow community.
Â
Prior to arriving in Pullman, Stevens spent five years (2000-05) in the UC Davis sports information office, and nine years with the Sacramento Kings, first as assistant director of public relations and later as manager of creative services.
Â
Stevens is a 1987 graduate of WSU with a degree in public relations. He was a four-year letterwinner in tennis under Hall of Fame coach Rex Davis. Stevens and his wife, Joni, also a WSU graduate, have two grown sons, Nick and Jake, both WSU graduates.
Monday, June 01
Sunday, May 31
Saturday, May 30
Friday, May 29
