2015 Outstanding Alumni

Robert Giovannetti, a name many consider synonymous with Texas Tech athletics over the past decade, has had a successful career in broadcasting, journalism, electronic media and sports communications.

Giovannetti has been credited with helping redefine Texas Tech sports coverage in West Texas. His acquisition of Red Raider Sports Productions, including a magazine and website, in October 2000 shifted the Texas Tech fan experience to one that is focused on web and multimedia delivery. And as co-creator and host of Tech Talk, a popular, daily radio show, Giovannetti has helped usher in a new wave of sports radio talk shows in the Lubbock market.

In May, Giovannetti was named senior associate athletics director for external operations and strategic communications. Before joining the Texas Tech athletics department, Giovannetti was the managing director of Texas Tech Public Media and successfully guided KTTZ-TV and KTTZ-FM to unprecedented growth in revenue and production in just twelve months. Prior to his stint at public media, Giovannetti served as an associate vice chancellor for Kent Hance and the Texas Tech System.

Prior to his current association with Texas Tech, Giovannetti was sports director and anchor for Fox 34 News at Nine, was publisher of RedRaiderSports.com, conceptualized and created the Video Season Ticket (now Red Raider Replay), co-produced a 40-program series of Life Skills DVDs for student athletes, and wrote the text for Fearless Champions, a 163-page coffee table book chronicling the history of Texas Tech athletics.

In his spare time, Giovannetti has been the emcee and host for countless events related to Texas Tech and local athletics, including signing day, bowl games and preseason specials. He has hosted and co-hosted numerous Texas Tech coach sports shows and is the television play-by-play voice for Texas Tech volleyball, men's and women's basketball, and baseball. He also is an adjunct faculty member and teaches classes in the College of Media & Communication.

Giovannetti has earned two degrees from Texas Tech -- a Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Telecommunications and a Master of Arts in Mass Communications.

Giovannetti and his wife, Donna, reside in Lubbock with their daughter Rachel.

Robert Giovannetti