Strategic Communications
The University of Pittsburgh Strategic Communications department is a multi-disciplined team committed to telling the story of the Pitt’s 19 intercollegiate athletic programs and more than 375 student-athletes in a compelling, accurate and timely fashion.
Situated in a top 25 media market nationally with two major newspapers, four television stations as well as a regional sports network, Pitt is a well-renowned brand featured in media outlets around the state, country and world.
Strategic Communications consists of three specialized departments: Strategic Communications (formerly media relations)], Social Media and Creative & Digital Strategy. These units collaborate daily with partners in Marketing, Ticketing, and Broadcast and Video Production to form a unified external team equipped to lead the evolution of the Pitt brand.
The Strategic Communications unit facilitates communication between the athletic department and its external constituents, increases the awareness of and interest in Pitt Athletics and publicizes the activities and accomplishments of the student-athletes, teams and the athletic department as a whole. Our staff services and assists the media, coordinates interviews, conducts press conferences, produces all departmental publications, compiles statistics, managed sport-specific social media accounts and serves as the archivists and historians of Pitt Athletics.
An online credential system will be used to apply for season and single-game media credentials for football and men's basketball. All media must use the system to apply for men's basketball credentials, and football credentials. For all other sports, please contact the appropriate athletic communications contact on the Strategic Communications Staff Directory.
All interview requests should be directed to the appropriate sport contact. Coaches, student-athletes and staff members should not be contacted directly.
Photos/Video of Pitt coaches, student-athletes and staff members can be requested by contacting the appropriate sport representative.
The main purpose of this page is to assist the media in coverage of Pitt Athletics. If information is desired that is not available on this page, please contact the Strategic Communications office at 412-648-8240.
Pitt’s social media team is charged with sharing the stories of all the Pitt student-athletes and promoting the Pitt Athletics brand. Along with the groups in strategic communications, graphic design, broadcast and video, marketing, and others, the platforms of Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok are managed on a daily basis. The social media team aims to create, produce and distribute content to engage with Panther fans in Pittsburgh and beyond.
View a comprehensive directory of Pitt Athletics social media accounts.
Pitt's Creative & Digital Strategy unit is responsible for shaping and executing the department’s visual strategy while overseeing its digital properties to deliver a consistent, high-quality experience for fans, recruits, and alumni across all platforms. Staffed by three designers, a digital media specialist, and a growing team of student interns, the unit produces a diverse array of solutions, spanning social media, print, environmental branding, web, and digital content. By collaborating closely with teams and administrative units, they ensure exceptional outcomes that align with Pitt Athletics’ brand standards.
The department’s digital media portfolio includes PittsburghPanthers.com, the official YouTube channel, and the Pitt Gameday App, all of which rank in the top half of the ACC for traffic, subscribers, and pageviews. This integrated approach not only enhances fan engagement but also strengthens Pitt’s presence in the competitive landscape of collegiate athletics.
Matt Plizga
Associate Athletic Director
Contact for: MBB
mplizga@athletics.pitt.edu
Mike Annarella
Director of Football Communications
Contact for: FB
mannarella@athletics.pitt.edu
Isaiah Green
Director of Strategic Communications
Contact for: WBB, MSOC
igreen@athletics.pitt.edu
Elisabeth Schmidt
Assistant Director of Strategic Communications
Contact for: WRES, 2MBB, SB
eschmidt@athletics.pitt.edu
Rachel Bilenki
Assistant Director of Strategic Communications
Contact for: WSOC, S&D, 2WLAX
Dominic Pasquale
Assistant Director of Strategic Communications
Contact for: BASE, S&D, 2FB
dpasquale@athletics.pitt.edu
Charissa Coleman
Assistant Director of Strategic Communications
Contact for: VB, GYM
ccoleman@athletics.pitt.edu
Joe Lassi
Director of Social Media and Fan Engagement
Contact for: WLAX
jlassi@athletics.pitt.edu
Cassie Smith
Assistant Director of Social Media
& Media Operations
Contact for: XC, T&F
csmith@athletics.pitt.edu
Ben Mitchell
Senior Director of Creative & Digital Media
bimitchell@athletics.pitt.edu
Dan Lee
Assistant Director of Graphic Design
dtlee@athletics.pitt.edu
Sarah Uribe
Assistant Director of Graphic Design
suribe@athletics.pitt.edu
TBD
Assistant Director of Digital Media
412-648-8240
412-648-8248
@Pitt_ATHLETICS
@Pitt_ATHLETICS
@PittsburghPanthers
P.O. Box 7436
Petersen Events Center
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Strategic Communications
3719 Terrace Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261