CSU Pueblo Vice President of Athletics and Strategic Partnerships Dr. Paul Plinske has named Dominic Puhalj as the Assistant Athletic Director for Tickets, Facilities and Events, overseeing the ThunderWolves Athletic Department's ticketing operations, game-day management, event logistics, and athletic facility operations. Puhalj began his role at CSU Pueblo on August 1, 2026.
In his role with Pack Athletics, Puhalj is responsible for coordinating championship-caliber game-day experiences while ensuring student-athletes, coaches, officials, and fans receive exceptional service at all CSU Pueblo athletic venues.
Puhalj joined CSU Pueblo after earning his Master of Science in Sport Management from Tusculum University, where he served as a Graduate Assistant in Game Operations. At Tusculum, he coordinated game-day operations for football, volleyball, soccer, men's and women's lacrosse, and tennis while managing ticketing operations, supervising student workers, assisting with donor hospitality, and preparing competition venues for NCAA Division II competition.
Prior to Tusculum, Puhalj completed an athletics internship at the University of Mount Olive, assisting with event operations, facility management, marketing initiatives, social media, and game-day logistics. He also gained experience in athletic administration through an internship at Kellogg Community College and worked in stadium operations with the Battle Creek Battle Jacks, where he supported fan engagement, concessions, and facility preparation.
A native of Battle Creek, Michigan, Puhalj was a magna cum laude graduate in Sport Management with a minor in Marketing from the University of Mount Olive. A four-year member of the Trojans men's lacrosse program, he was named to the Conference Carolinas Academic Honor Roll all eight semesters, helped lead the program to its first Conference Carolinas Championship in 2024, and received the University's Outstanding Exercise and Sport Science Major Award in 2025. He also has represented Croatia as a member of the Croatian National Men's Lacrosse Team.
Outside of collegiate athletics, Puhalj, who lives in Pueblo West, has coached youth lacrosse in Michigan and remains passionate about mentoring young athletes while creating memorable experiences for fans and student-athletes alike.
