TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University athletic department announced the hiring of Lou Groce on Thursday as the department's assistant director for media and communications.
 
"We're excited to welcome Lou to our department of athletics communications. We're undergoing some restructuring, aligning our departmental structure with our vision of branding PLU Athletics. Lou brings the essential skill sets and energy to the position to continue moving us forward as we strive to meet the ever-changing demands of the profession," said Athletic Director Laurie Turner. 
 
"His experience and understanding of Division III athletics will allow him to hit the ground running to meet the needs of our coaches and other constituents."
 
Groce joins the PLU staff after serving as the sports information director at California State University-Bakersfield since 2018. While with the Division I Roadrunners, Groce served as the primary media contact for the men's soccer, men's and women's swimming, wrestling, baseball, and beach volleyball programs. His time at CSUB included working extensively with broadcast teams with the WAC Digital Network, ESPN 3, and ESPN Radio, while helping promote several big events on campus, including education day for men's soccer and "Feud on the Field" for wrestling.
 
No stranger to Division III, Groce served as the director of media and information for the Midwest Conference from 2014-2018. His tenure included a redesign of the conference website, overseeing the league's NCAA Strategic Initiative Grant Program, and serving as tournament director for over 20 MWC Championships.
 
Groce served as a graduate assistant at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois from 2012-2014 and was a GA for Frostburg State University in Maryland during the 2011-2012 academic year. As an undergraduate student, Groce worked for the NCC sports information office for two years and spent one summer as an intern at Illinois State University. 
 
"I'd like to thank Laurie Turner and the rest of the search committee for giving me this opportunity," said Groce. "The people at PLU couldn't have been more welcoming throughout the process. I'm eager to return to a Division III institution and excited to work with our coaches and student-athletes."
 
Groce has worked at several high profile events, serving as part of the media relations team at the 2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, the 2016 NCAA Division III Football playoffs and the 2016 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships. 
 
A member of College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), Groce earned a bachelor's degree in sport management with a minor in broadcast communication at North Central College and also earned a master's degree in leadership studies at NCC. While at NCC, Groce was a football student-athlete, playing on Cardinal teams that won two College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin titles and made two NCAA playoff appearances. 

Groce will begin his duties at PLU on August 26.