University of Utah deputy athletics director Scott Kull announced today the appointment of Paul Kirk as associate athletics director for strategic communications. Kirk will begin his role on June 3.

A veteran of nearly three decades in intercollegiate and professional sports, Kirk joins the Utah Athletics staff after spending the past seven years at Colorado State. He replaces outgoing senior associate athletics director for communication, Liz Abel, who is retiring July 31 after 36 years at the school.

“We are thrilled that Paul will be joining our outstanding leadership team,” said Kull. “Paul is a very accomplished communications and media professional and his skills and experience will benefit us greatly at this very important time.”

At CSU, Kirk shaped and executed the Rams’ overall athletics communications strategies, while also serving as the athletics department spokesperson and primary communications contact for football. Kirk joined CSU’s Athletics team in July 2012 as the director of media relations, earning promotions to assistant A.D. for communications in 2014 and associate A.D. for communications and media in 2018.

Prior to his position at Colorado State, Kirk was assistant A.D. for communications at Drake University from 2011-12, where he was the primary media contact the men’s basketball and football teams and the media coordinator for the annual Drake Relays and the 2011 and 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, hosted at Drake Stadium.