Staff Directory
- Title:
- Senior Associate Athletics Director / External Operations & Strategic Communications (Sports Administrator: Baseball)
- Email:
- Phone:
- (806) 834-7842
Robert Giovannetti has continued to help build Texas Tech into one of the strongest brands in the country since being named Senior Associate Athletics Director for external operations and strategic communications in May 2015.
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In his role, Giovannetti oversees all of the department’s external units, namely athletics communications, digital media, sports broadcasting, promotions and fan engagement, trademarks and licensing, ticket sales and ticket operations.
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Texas Tech has experienced its largest growth in social media under Giovannetti’s watch as its accounts ranked eighth nationally in September 2020 for most combined engagement among schools nationally, according to a study from Athletic Director U. The rise in social media usage was helped in part by the construction of a state-of-the-art television studio early in Giovannetti’s tenure that allows Texas Tech to produce its weekly Double T Insider show as well as special broadcasts throughout the year.
Giovannetti made the move to the athletics department after four years already working at Texas Tech, most recently as the managing director of public media where he oversaw all of the university's broadcasting outlets, including KTTZ television and radio along with KNCH radio in San Angelo.
Giovannetti originally joined the Texas Tech family in 2011 as the associate vice chancellor for communications and marketing. In that role, Giovannetti worked daily with former chancellor Kent Hance, serving as primary spokesperson and media contact while also overseeing the message for the Texas Tech System.
In addition to his responsibilities on campus, Giovannetti was Texas Tech's television play-by-play announcer for all athletics broadcasts on FOX Sports. He has also worked with the Texas Tech Sports Network, serving as the radio voice for Red Raider Baseball from 2008-12 and then in a fill-in role since then.
Prior to arriving at Texas Tech, Giovannetti co-produced and co-hosted the popular daily radio show "Tech Talk" for Ramar Communications while also serving as sports director and anchor for Fox 34 News. Giovannetti was also founder and publisher for RedRaiderSports.com, a popular Texas Tech website on the Rivals network.
Giovannetti, who boasts more than 25 years of experience in electronic media, published Red Raider Sports Magazine for 11 years as well while serving as president of TRI Productions, and prior to that, CEV Multimedia. He has overseen the production of more than 500 educationally and athletic related video programs during his career.
Giovannetti has earned two degrees from Texas Tech – a Bachelor of Arts in corporate telecommunications and then a Masters of Arts in mass communications.
Giovannetti and his wife Donna currently reside in Lubbock. They are parents to a daughter, Rachel.
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