TicketsCINCINNATI - Zach Stipe joins the University of Cincinnati Athletics staff as the Associate Athletics Director for Communications and Strategic Brand Engagement. As part of The Agency, Stipe will lead communications efforts and serve as the primary media contact for the athletic department and the nationally-ranked football program.
Stipe brings more than 12 years of college athletics experience to UC, serving as the Director of Football Communications at both the University of Tennessee and Florida State University. He has worked directly with 35 NFL draft picks and promoted teams that played in five bowl games, including the 2013 BCS National Championship.
"We are excited to welcome Zach and his family to the Bearcats," said Ben Hofstetter, Associate AD for Digital & Strategic Engagement. "Zach is highly regarded in the world of college athletics and his resume as a top communicator speaks for itself. His knowledge and experience will make him an asset to our department as we amplify our student-athletes' stories on the biggest stages and pursue next-level success across all sports."
"It's an honor to join the University of Cincinnati Athletics staff," Stipe said. "UC is a world-class university in a phenomenal city with athletic programs that compete at the highest level. I'm excited to work with the Bearcats' student-athletes and leaders like Director of Athletics John Cunningham and Head Football Coach Luke Fickell. I'm grateful for this opportunity and can't wait to get started."
"Zach is highly regarded in the world of college athletics and his resume as a top communicator speaks for itself. His knowledge and experience will make him an asset to our department as we amplify our student-athletes' stories on the biggest stages."
Ben Hofstetter
Associate AD, Digital & Strategic Engagement
Stipe led all publicity efforts for the football program at the University of Tennessee from 2017 to 2020 and served in a similar role at Florida State from 2013 to 2016. At FSU, Stipe worked directly with Seminoles' head coach Jimbo Fisher and spearheaded national award campaigns for more than a dozen student-athletes, including 2013 Heisman Trophy-winner Jameis Winston, 2015 first-round NFL draft pick Jalen Ramsey and 2016 unanimous All-American Dalvin Cook, among others.
Stipe was hired by Florida State in 2011 and initially worked with the women's basketball program and the school's first-ever beach volleyball team.
A native of Canton, Ohio, Stipe started his career as a graduate assistant on Tennessee's athletics communications staff from 2008 to 2011 while earning his master's degree. During that time, he worked closely with several sports, including the late Pat Summitt's Lady Vol basketball program.
Most recently, Stipe led public relations efforts in Greater Cincinnati for several clients as an account manager at Scooter Media.
Stipe attended Ohio Northern University, where he competed on the cross country and track and field teams and earned his degree in journalism in 2008. He received a master's degree in sport management from Tennessee in 2010.
Stipe is a member of the Cincinnati Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Leadership Team, serving as the Media Day co-chair.
He and his wife, Katie, have a son, Owen, and live in Anderson Township, Ohio.