BERKELEY – Chris Stivers, who worked for almost 15 years at the University and served most recently as Associate Athletic Director for Compliance until his retirement late last year, died in early September at the age of 50 after a brief illness while traveling overseas. 

Stivers reportedly was admitted to a local hospital while traveling in Vietnam after becoming sick for several days, but was unable to recover. Further details on his passing are not yet available as his family is traveling to meet with local authorities and return him to the United States. A moment of silence is being planned to remember Stivers during Saturday's football game between California and San Diego State. Information on a future memorial service will be forthcoming. 

“As a family, we at Cal Athletics want to support the family of Chris Stivers during this tragic and difficult time,” said Director of Athletics Mike Williams. “Chris was a friend to so many on this campus and he was committed to the nurturing of student-athletes and the programs in which they matured into impressive men and women while competing for our University. We are committed to celebrating his memory and serving our department with the same high standard he applied to his work. He will be missed greatly.”

“Chris worked on some very innovative ideas that were adopted nationally by schools around the country, and he was hailed by the NCAA and the United States Tennis Association for those initiatives,” said Cal head men's tennis coach Peter Wright. “He was willing to roll up his sleeves and do some amazing work, and he did that for a lot of sports. It was always about the student-athletes. More than anything, he was a Cal Bear and a wonderful friend to those he touched.”

Stivers was more than an administrator in Cal Athletics – he was also an alumnus of the University. Everyone in the Cal Athletics family extends their sincere condolences to the family of Chris Stivers and support to the hundreds of people he touched.

Cal Athletics will release further details on the memorial service for Chris Stivers as more information becomes available.