The Aliquippa-to-Pitt football pipeline has produced some of the greatest players in the history of the University of Pittsburgh, names that include legendary Panthers such as Mike Ditka, Sean Gilbert, and Darrelle Revis. But Pitt’s program has also found monumental success behind-the-scenes as well, and just like on the football field, an Aliquippa grad is the lynchpin to those grand achievements.

Chris LaSala enters his 18th season overseeing football operations for the University of Pittsburgh. He has served Pitt as an assistant athletic director the past 15 years.

A native of Aliquippa, Chris ranks among the country's most respected professionals in his capacity. He truly has proven to be the Panthers' master of multi-tasking, handling such diverse responsibilities as team travel accommodations, youth summer camps, coaching clinics, preseason training camp arrangements as well as the daily administration for Pitt's football team. Chris also serves as the football program's liaison to numerous campus offices and within the athletic department. In 2004 he was named a recipient of the prestigious Chancellor's Award for Staff Excellence in service to the University of Pittsburgh.

In 2006 Chris was recognized as an "Outstanding Graduate" of Temple University's sport/recreation administration program. Chris was a chief coordinator and planner for Pitt's move to its state-of-the-art practice facility, the UPMC Sports Performance Complex. He has been instrumental in the planning of Pitt's trips to 12 bowl games, including the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (2013 season), BBVA Compass Bowl (2010-12), Meineke Car Care Bowl (2009), Sun Bowl (2008), Fiesta Bowl (2004), Continental Tire Bowl (2003), Insight Bowl (2000 and 2002), Tangerine Bowl (2001), and Liberty Bowl (1997).

Chris's career in athletics began at Temple, where he served as a graduate assistant. He then came to the University of Pittsburgh as an athletic department intern in 1989. Prior to his 1997 Pitt appointment he served three years as the director of football operations at Boston College (1994-96), where he handled all the administrative duties for the football program, including overseeing the travel arrangements and organizing BC's youth camps. During his BC tenure, the Eagles captured the 1994 Aloha Bowl and participated in the 1995 Kickoff Classic.

Before Boston College, Chris spent four years at Temple (1990-93) as recruiting coordinator and ultimately was elevated to assistant athletic director. He initially joined Temple as a graduate assistant in 1988 and then returned to the Owls' football staff in 1990 as the administrative assistant.

Chris graduated from West Virginia in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in accounting. He earned his master's degree in sports administration from Temple in 1991. Prior to entering college, Chris contributed to Aliquippa’s great football legacy, as he was a two-year letter winner on teams that advanced to the WPIAL championship game in both 1982 and 1983.

While Chris has made his mark in football, he was a standout on Aliquippa’s baseball team as well, earning four letters and being named a captain twice. He was also an American Legion All Star.

Chris and his wife Dana have one son, Anthony.