Nov. 30, 2016
THE FLATS – Mark Rountree, a former football student-athlete at Louisiana Tech and experienced athletics administrator who most recently served as the director of athletics at Portland State University, will join the Georgia Tech athletics staff as a deputy athletics director, director of athletics Todd Stansbury announced on Wednesday.
“Mark brings a wealth of experience in college athletics, ranging from his time as a student-athlete at Louisiana Tech all the way to his most recent position as athletics director at Portland State,” Stansbury said. “In addition to being a talented and experienced administrator, he is also someone that I have worked with in the past and I know prioritizes providing the best experience possible for student-athletes. I’m excited to welcome Mark and his wife, Jennie, to the Georgia Tech family.”
Rountree, 47, served as Portland State’s director of athletics since Jan. 2, 2015. In less than two years as A.D., he instituted fundraising and oversaw groundbreaking for the Viking Pavilion Project, a $50 million renovation of PSU’s main athletics facility, which will include a 3,000-seat arena and 15,000 square feet dedicated to student-athletes’ academic pursuits when construction is completed in 2018. Also under Rountree’s direction, Portland State set fundraising records during its annual Wine and Roses events in both 2015 and 2016.
He hired new women’s basketball, softball and track and field head coaches at Portland State and signed football head coach Bruce Barnum to a five-year contract. Barnum went on to lead PSU to a 9-3 record and NCAA Division I FCS playoff appearance in his first full season at the helm in 2015. In addition to posting its best record as a Division I program, Portland State football also recorded its highest home attendance in seven seasons in `15.
Prior to his arrival at Portland State, Rountree served as deputy athletics director at Miami (Ohio) from 2013-14. At Miami, he oversaw the daily operation of the athletics department, served as sport administrator for football and men’s basketball and supervised academics, business operations, compliance, equipment and strength and conditioning. He was also the department’s chief financial officer and was responsible for strategic planning.
Rountree’s administrative experience also includes stints at Georgetown (senior associate A.D./internal operations — 2008-13), Oregon State (associate A.D./compliance — 2004-08), Towson (assistant A.D./compliance — 2000-04), Maryland (compliance coordinator — 1997-2000), Texas Pan-American (assistant A.D./1994-97) and Louisiana Tech (director of academic support — 1991-94). It was during his five years at Oregon State that he worked with Stansbury, who was OSU’s executive associate A.D. at the time.
“I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to join the staff at Georgia Tech,” Rountree said. “It will be a privilege to work with coaches and staff to impact students’ lives through the world-class academics and athletic competition that only the Institute can offer.
“I also must say thanks to all the people at Portland State who helped make a difference during my time as the Vikings’ A.D.,” he continued.
A native of West Monroe, La., Rountree was a four-year letterwinner as a running back/wide receiver at Louisiana Tech from 1987-1990. He graduated from Louisiana Tech with a bachelor’s degree in history in 1991.
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, follow us on Twitter (@GTAthletics), Facebook and Instagram or visit us at Ramblinwreck.com.
