Joe Waltasti was named the assistant athletics director for media relations at San José State in September of 2019.
Waltasti joined the Spartans after six years as an assistant director of communications at the University of Oregon. He worked with the Ducks' nationally ranked softball and women's basketball programs in addition to football and women's golf. Waltasti coordinated publicity efforts during the softball program's four trips to the NCAA Women's College World Series and women's basketball's appearances in the 2019 NCAA Women's Final Four and 2017 and 2018 Elite Eights. Waltasti helped the Ducks host multiple NCAA championship events, including the NCAA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., and NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament in Portland, Ore. During his time in Eugene, Waltasti also spent a summer working with the Eugene Emeralds, the short season affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.
Before joining the Ducks in 2013, Waltasti worked as an assistant director of media relations at UC Davis and Sacramento State. After graduating from Eastern Illinois in 2007, Waltasti served internship roles in the media relations offices at Ohio University and the University of Oregon.
A native of Arlington Heights, Ill., Waltasti married his wife Loni in 2015 and the couple has a daughter, Ragan.
Joe Waltasti