University of Minnesota Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Sr. Associate AD / Communications (Football)
- Email:
- Phone:
- 612-625-9379
Paul Rovnak is a Senior Associate Athletic Director with direct oversight of the Athletic Communications office at the University of Minnesota.
He serves as the primary communications contact for the Golden Gopher football team and coordinates media efforts for Big Ten and NCAA championships hosted by Minnesota. This has included the 2019 NCAA Men's Final Four and the 2021 NCAA Women's Final Four. In addition he has overseen media operations for the NCAA Men's Frozen Four, NCAA Women's Frozen Four, the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship, NCAA Men's Swimming Championship, NCAA Women's Swimming Championship, the NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championship, NCAA tournament games for both baseball and softball and NCAA regional competition for women's gymnastics.Â
Rovnak joined the Minnesota Athletic Communications department in July 2010 and has also worked directly with the men's hockey and tennis teams. He also serves as a department spokesperson, provides council to coaches and administrators, is a department liaison with campus leadership, works with all print, online, radio and television media outlets and helps plan and executes all new head coaching announcements. Â
Prior to arriving at Minnesota, he served as assistant director of media relations for the NHL's Washington Capitals from 2007-10. Rovnak worked every practice, home game and nearly every road game, as he promoted the efforts of the players, coaching staff and front office while working with local, national and international media outlets. Washington's media relations department was recognized as the best in the Eastern Conference by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association from 2007-10
Rovnak also worked at the Ladies Professional Golf Association where he was a senior media relations coordinator from 2002-2006. While with the LPGA, Rovnak worked with the most recognizable female athletes in the world and traveled the globe running the tour's media operations at select tournaments.
A native of Gahanna, Ohio, Rovnak graduated from Ohio State in December 2001 with a bachelor's degree in journalism.
