WASHINGTON – Over the last four decades, countless things have changed within the Gallaudet University Athletics Department. One thing, however, remained constant.

Kris Gould, '87, the jovial and energetic facilities and equipment coordinator for Bison athletics, has been at the heart of it all for the last 40 years.
The institution changed. The Bison logo evolved through several redesigns. Athletic facilities were renovated. Playing surfaces changed. Uniform suppliers came and went. Coaches retired. Student-athletes graduated. GU joined and left conferences. Through every change, one person remained a constant – Kris Gould.

A day many in the Gallaudet community never wanted to imagine became a reality on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, as Kris announced his well-deserved retirement.

"It's been an honor to spend my career at Gallaudet. I have been blessed to work alongside so many wonderful coaches, staff members and student-athletes over the years," said Gould. "Thank you to everyone who made this place feel like home. Gallaudet will always hold a special place in my heart."

The end of an era is an understatement when one thinks about the impact Kris has made on Gallaudet University and the thousands of deaf and hard of hearing student-athletes who have suited up in the buff and blue.

"This is a day we all thought would never come, and one of the most poignant moments in Gallaudet Athletics history. As one of our true staples steps away, this isn't goodbye, but 'see you later.' Kris didn't just give us 40 years of service—he worked double shifts, six days a week. His heart and soul truly belonged to the Field House. Kris, thank you for everything you've done and for the countless lives you've impacted," said Gallaudet Director of Athletics Warren Keller, '10.

Humble Beginning
In 1982, a young deaf student from Colorado arrived on the Gallaudet campus not knowing he would spend the next four decades serving the university he would come to call home.

Kris became a standout student-athlete on Gallaudet's athletic teams. He played two years of men's basketball (1982-84), three seasons of men's soccer (1983, '84, '85) and excelled on the baseball diamond for three seasons (1983, '84, '85). Kris set the school records for batting average in a season (.441 in 1983) and career batting average (.395).

Kris graduated from Gallaudet in 1987 and went to work at the Gallaudet Northwest Preparatory campus before he joined the athletics department full-time in 1991. Over the years he served as a head coach, assistant coach, athletic trainer, game management staff member, equipment manager and ultimately the Game Management and Facilities and Equipment Coordinator. Quite literally, Kris was a jack of all trades.

If something needed to be done, chances are Kris did it. He gave his all to his alma mater.

On July 11, 2014, Kris received the ultimate honor when he was inducted into the Gallaudet University Athletics Hall of Fame.

Gave His All
One of the first people any incoming Gallaudet student-athlete met when they set foot on campus was Kris Gould. The humble and tireless equipment manager outfitted Bison student-athletes and reviewed the locker room, uniform and equipment expectations with each team every season. He became one of the department's most indispensable people and bar none, the hardest person to find, since Kris was always doing the job of seven or 10 individuals. He was always somewhere behind the scenes doing the work that kept the department moving—and doing it the right way.

No one gave more of himself to the athletics department than Kris Gould. The Field House was home for Kris for decades and he treated the building like his own and made sure it was clean and ready to go each and every day.

Kris was responsible for the Gallaudet Athletics uniforms but his own uniform was quite simple. A Bison athletic t-shirt and shorts, normally in the standard navy blue, along with a pair of tennis shoes he wore until the soles nearly fell off. It wasn't uncommon to see Kris on the sideline of Gallaudet football games late into the season when the temperatures dropped and the leaves fell for him to still wear his trademark shorts.

Over four decades, Kris worked alongside hundreds of athletics staff members, dozens of head coaches, helped prepare thousands of student-athletes to represent Gallaudet University and played a role in hosting more than 4,000 athletic events.

Kris was passionate about Bison athletics and cheered on all of the teams. He always wanted to see Bison student-athletes reach their potential and do their best.

For Kris, success was never measured solely by wins and losses. It was about giving your best every single day.

It's a lesson all of us could stand to remember.

"I was incredibly fortunate to work with Kris for 11 years. He was probably the only person who had more energy than the Energizer Bunny. Kris never understood the concept of a 40-hour workweek. More often than not, he worked 80 hours or more each week without ever complaining," said Gallaudet Athletics Hall of Famer and former Athletic Director Michael Weinstock, '81 (2007-18). "Kris always went the extra mile for our student-athletes and athletic staff, doing everything he could to ensure they had the support they needed and were well taken care of. His dedication, work ethic, and passion for serving others were truly unmatched. Kris will be deeply missed, and I wish him nothing but the very best as he begins his new chapter. No matter where life takes him, his heart will always bleed Buff and Blue."

Away from Gallaudet, Kris enjoys hiking, running, skiing, biking, country music, attending baseball games and touring athletic venues. Kris is deeply devoted to his family and his home state of Colorado, making a trip west to the Centennial State each summer whenever possible. Now there is more opportunity to enjoy these interests and spend time with family and friends after giving so much of himself to Bison Athletics.

Ask almost anyone who spent time around Gallaudet Athletics and they'll have a Kris Gould story. Maybe it was a last-minute equipment request or a game operations issue that needed to be solved quickly. Maybe it was a simple smile or words of encouragement to get you over a loss or a tough time. Maybe it was shoveling the snow away from the Field House or some of the athletic fields with members of the team. Those moments rarely appeared in a box score or record book, but they became part of the experience of being a Bison.

Kris Gould gave his blood, sweat and tears to Gallaudet University. When he walks out of the Field House as an employee for the final time, he won't simply be leaving a job. He'll leave behind four decades of service, countless memories and a legacy that touched generations of Bison student-athletes. For many, there will be a tear or two, a smile and a tip of the cap for a man who quietly became one of the greatest servants Gallaudet Athletics has ever known.

Job well done, Kris.