PUEBLO, Colo. (July 31, 2026) – Colorado State University Pueblo Vice President for Athletics and Strategic Partnerships Dr. Paul Plinske has announced the hiring of Dominic Puhalj as the University's Assistant Athletic Director for Tickets, Facilities and Events. Puhalj began his duties at CSU Pueblo on August 3.

Puhalj joins the ThunderWolves after serving as a Graduate Assistant for Game Operations at Tusculum University, where he gained extensive experience managing NCAA Division II athletic events, ticketing operations, facility management and game-day logistics across multiple sports.

"Dominic brings an outstanding combination of event operations experience, organizational skills and a genuine passion for collegiate athletics. Throughout the search process, he impressed us with his professionalism, attention to detail and commitment to creating a first-class experience for our student-athletes, coaches and fans. His background in NCAA Division II athletics, coupled with his strong work ethic and servant leadership mindset, makes him an excellent addition to our department," Plinske said. "We are excited to welcome Dominic to the ThunderWolf family and look forward to the positive impact he will have on our fans, game-day operations and athletic facilities."

In his position with Pack Athletics, Puhalj will oversee all aspects of athletic ticket operations, coordinate game-day management for CSU Pueblo's 22 varsity sports, supervise athletic facility scheduling and event logistics, and help ensure an exceptional experience for student-athletes, coaches, officials and fans.

"I am incredibly honored and excited to join CSU Pueblo Athletics as the Assistant Athletic Director for Ticketing, Facilities and Events. This is a tremendous opportunity to become part of a department with a strong tradition of excellence, and I look forward to contributing to the continued success and growth of ThunderWolves Athletics while enhancing the experience for our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans. I am excited to continue growing as an athletics administrator while doing everything I can to help elevate CSU Pueblo Athletics," Puhalj said. "I would like to extend my sincere thanks to (Dr. Paul) Plinske, Jenna McKinley-Fall, Dax Charles, and Ben Greenberg for their confidence in me throughout the hiring process. I am truly grateful for this incredible opportunity and look forward to working alongside our coaches, staff, student-athletes, and the Pueblo community to build on the department's success. I can't wait to get to campus, get to work, and make a positive impact on ThunderWolves Athletics."

At Tusculum, Puhalj coordinated game-day operations for football, volleyball, soccer, men's and women's lacrosse and tennis while managing ticketing operations, supervising student employees, assisting with donor hospitality, preparing competition venues and ensuring events met South Atlantic Conference standards. He also worked closely with revenue generation initiatives, facility preparation and transportation logistics while helping create a positive fan experience.

Before working at Tusculum, Puhalj served as an athletics intern at the University of Mount Olive, assisting with event operations, facility management, marketing initiatives and social media while also providing broadcast commentary for women's lacrosse. He previously completed athletic administration and stadium operations internships with Kellogg Community College and the Battle Creek Battle Jacks, gaining valuable experience in facility operations, event planning, fan engagement and athletic administration.

A native of Battle Creek, Michigan, Puhalj earned his Bachelor of Science in Sport Management, magna cum laude, with a minor in Marketing from the University of Mount Olive before completing his Master of Science in Sport Management at Tusculum University. As a four-year member of the Trojans men's lacrosse program, he earned Conference Carolinas Academic Honor Roll recognition all eight semesters, helped lead Mount Olive to the 2024 Conference Carolinas Championship, and received the University's Outstanding Exercise and Sport Science Major Award in 2025. He has also represented Croatia as a member of the Croatian National Men's Lacrosse Team.

TRANSACTIONS: CSU Pueblo Athletics names Dominic Puhalj as the department's Assistant Athletic Director for Tickets, Facilities and Events.