TicketsZach Stipe is in his fifth year as the Associate Athletics Director for Communications and Creative Content at the University of Cincinnati Athletics Department.
As part of the Bearcats’ Agency, Stipe leads the communications, social and digital media and creative units, and serves as the primary media contact and department spokesperson for the football program. In his role, he works closely with Director of Athletics John Cunningham and head football coach Scott Satterfield.
In 2024, Stipe led the creation and development of the Let’s Reign Podcast, UC’s official podcast, as well as the Bearcats All-Access half-hour television show in collaboration with WCPO Channel 9.
Stipe joined the Bearcats in 2021. He has more than a decade of experience leading PR efforts for “Power Four” college football programs. He has worked with two different teams that have played in the College Football Playoff, the 2014 Florida State Seminoles and the 2021 Cincinnati Bearcats. He also led the promotional efforts for the 2013 Florida State team that won the final BCS National Championship.
In 2021, Stipe managed all media relations for Cincinnati football during its undefeated regular season and historic run to the CFP. He spearheaded the campaign for cornerback Coby Bryant to win the Jim Thorpe Award and worked closely with All-American and first-round pick Sauce Gardner, quarterback Desmond Ridder and head coach Luke Fickell, who won nearly every Coach of the Year honor.
Prior to joining the Bearcats, Stipe served as the Director of Football Communications at both the University of Tennessee and Florida State University. He has worked directly with more than 40 NFL draft picks and promoted teams that played in eight bowl games, including six “New Year’s Six” bowls.
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 led 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.
Stipe also has experience leading public relations campaigns in Greater Cincinnati for several clients as an account manager at Scooter Media from 2020 to 2021.
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 past member of the Cincinnati Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Leadership Team.
He and his wife, Katie, have three sons, Owen, Henry and Charlie, and live in Anderson Township, Ohio.