Luke Zahlmann - Staff Directory

Luke Zahlmann

Title:
Assistant Director of Strategic Communications
MEDIA CONTACT – Cross Country, Track & Field, Women's Golf, Rowing
Email:

Began at Louisville: October 2026

Summary of Current Role:
- Serves as the primary communications/media relations contact for track and field, cross country, women's golf and women's rowing

Career History:
Louisville Athletics
2026-current: Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

UNC Charlotte Athletics
2024-26: Associate Director of Strategic Communications/Feature Writer

Colorado Springs/Denver Gazette
2023-2024: Colorado Rockies Beat Writer/College Sports Contributor
2021-2023: Colorado Springs/Monument Preps Editor

Pueblo Chieftain
2021: Sports Reporter

Colorado State Athletics
2019-20: Intern/Content Writer for Ramwire

Career Highlights:
- Developed and executed social strategy and external messaging for UNC Charlotte men's basketball while assisting with each of the university's other sports, including football.
- Helped lead the student internship program at UNC Charlotte.
- Launched insider features for Charlotte49ers.com, accumulating over 40,000 unique visitors to the site in less than a year while providing an inside look at Charlotte Athletics.
- Served as a Colorado Rockies beat writer for the Denver Gazette while also covering the Colorado School of Mines in its run to the 2023 NCAA Division II Football National Championship in McKinney, Texas. Also contributed to coverage of the Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets, Colorado and Colorado State Athletics.
- Helped launch the podcasting arm of the Colorado Springs Gazette Preps section, while contributing to the podcasting efforts of the Denver Gazette's pro coverage team.

Certifications/Awards:
- 2022 APSE Award for Short Feature
- 2022 APSE Award for Event Coverage
- 2022 APSE Triple Crown Award Contributor
- 2023 APSE Award for Projects
- 2018 Finalist for Pinnacle Sports Columnist of the Year

Education:
Colorado State University :: Bachelor's of Journalism and Media Communications

Personal:
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colorado