Staff Directory
- Title:
- Associate Athletic Director, Strategic Communications
MEDIA CONTACT–Men's Basketball
- Email:
- Phone:
- 412-648-8240
Matt Plizga joined the University of Pittsburgh athletic department in July of 2015 as an Assistant Athletic Director of Strategic Communications. While serving as the primary communications contact for the Pitt men’s basketball program, Plizga also works with the women's lacrosse program, while overseeing the department’s Strategic Communications, Graphic Design, Social Media and Digital Media divisions.
Plizga is also a member of the Senior Leadership Team, External Leadership Team, Panthers United Committee and the former NIL Task Force. He was promoted to Associate Athletic Director in the spring of 2022.
Under Plizga’s guidance, the Pitt strategic communications staff has refined the department’s style guide to create more consistent messaging, established a comprehensive season in review packet and collaborated with the Marketing and Fan Engagement departments to create a comprehensive social media strategy designed to enhance the Pitt brand. He also played a key role in branding efforts in and around the Petersen Events Center, Fitzgerald Field House, Trees Pool and the Petersen Sports Complex.
Prior to his arrival at Pitt, Plizga spent 15 years as a member of the Sports Information Office at Duke University. He joined the SID staff as an intern in 2001 and was promoted to assistant sports information director during the spring of 2003. Plizga was promoted to associate sports information director in 2007 and was moved up to senior associate sports information director just prior to his departure in 2015.
Plizga spent the final 11 years of his time at Duke handling all media activities relating to the men’s basketball and men’s golf programs. In that time, he was a part of two National Championships (2010 and 2015), three Final Four appearances (2004, 2010, 2015) and seven ACC Championships. Plizga led three National Player of the Year, two National Defensive Player of the Year, four ACC Player of the Year, four ACC Rookie of the Year and 21 All-America campaigns. He also saw five Academic All-America selections, 37 All-ACC selections and 24 NBA Draft picks in that span.
Following Duke’s 2015 NCAA Championship run, Plizga was the managing editor of “Here Comes Duke – The Drive for Five”. He also assisted with the creation of “The Encyclopedia of Duke Basketball” and Gene Wojciechowski’s “The Last Great Game: Duke vs. Kentucky and the 2.1 Seconds that Changed Basketball”.
In addition to his responsibilities with the Duke basketball program, Plizga also served as a liaison with USA Basketball during Mike Krzyzewski’s tenure as head coach of the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team.
During his tenure at Duke, Plizga also worked with the football, women’s lacrosse, field hockey, fencing, rowing, volleyball, women’s basketball and wrestling programs.
Plizga served a two-year graduate assistantship in the Sports Information Office at Edinboro University, earning a master’s degree in speech and communication studies. At Edinboro, he worked with the volleyball, women’s basketball and softball programs, while assisting with baseball, football, men’s basketball and wrestling. Plizga also worked the sports desk at the Erie Daily Times and performed other freelance work for various publications.
A 1999 graduate of Penn State Erie – The Behrend College with a bachelor of arts degree in communication studies, Plizga was a four-year letterwinner on the men’s basketball team while also working in the sports information office as a work-study student and as an intern. He helped the team to three Division III ECAC Championship appearances, including a team title in 1999, and received the Penn State-Behrend Scholarship/Leadership Award in 1998. Plizga also wrote for the school paper and was the sports editor for three years as an undergraduate.
A Windsor, Ohio, native, Plizga resides in Gibsonia with his wife, Erin, and their two sons, Zander and Zachary.
Beyond the Bio
Favorite place on the University of Pittsburgh campus?
Petersen Events Center. I always enjoy the view of the Cathedral of Learning as I walk into one of the top basketball venues in the country.
What is one thing everyone should do when they visit the city of Pittsburgh?
Attend a sporting event. Pittsburgh is one of the best sports cities in the United States. The fans show great support and take great pride in the successes of their teams.
Favorite sports moment at Pitt?
I wasn’t here for it but “Send it in Jerome” has to be one of the best calls and one of the best dunks in college basketball history. I have had the privilege to spend some time with Bill Raftery and his recollection and retelling of that moment and the atmosphere at Fitzgerald Field House paint a terrific picture.
Favorite Pittsburgh restaurant?
Pittsburgh is a great food city. The downtown area has every type of restaurant you would want. I haven’t made it to all of them but right now I would have to say City Works is the favorite.
