Kolbe Tom

Tom Kolbe is in his 20th year at his alma mater, serving as Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications while holding multiple leadership roles within the University of Tampa Athletics Department. A 2001 UT graduate, Kolbe began his career as an assistant sports information director after serving as a student assistant for four years.

At Tampa, Kolbe has covered 21 NCAA Division II national championship teams and oversees all aspects of athletic communications, branding, and creative strategy. He leads the department’s creative team, social media team, video production unit, and gameday operations, and manages branding initiatives across UT’s athletic facilities.

Kolbe has positioned UT Athletics as a social media leader, guiding the Spartans to become the most-followed brand in NCAA Division II. Under his direction, UT student-athletes have access to an innovative content platform through Teamworks, consistently ranking among the top 10 NCAA programs for image and video uploads, empowering athletes to build their personal brands. He also spearheads the University’s NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) efforts, assisting student-athletes in navigating opportunities and enhancing their marketability.

He chairs the University of Tampa Athletics Hall of Fame Committee, organizing the biennial ceremony and managing all aspects of the event. Kolbe has promoted over 100 All-Americans, 27 Academic All-Americans, eight National Players of the Year, and one Academic All-American of the Year. He has directed high-profile events, including games against the Netherlands National Baseball Team and the Philadelphia Phillies, earning national attention for UT Athletics.

Kolbe is active in CoSIDA, having served on multiple committees and as a panelist on social media policy. UT was among the first programs nationally to implement social networking guidelines for student-athletes. He also serves on Sunshine State Conference committees and has participated in NCAA workshops.

Beyond communications, Kolbe contributes to University initiatives, including emergency operations, IT, and coaching searches. He teaches a first-year studies course and advises 22–26 students annually, guiding them through academic planning and campus life.

Kolbe has led major digital innovations, including the development of TampaSpartans.com, live streaming via TampaSpartans.tv, and UT’s social media presence across Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube—platforms that rank among the top in NCAA Division II. His department has earned national recognition for design and video work, including being named the top college athletics website in Division II by NCSA/USA Today.

Prior to UT, Kolbe worked in the sports information department at Notre Dame, contributing to media guides for multiple sports and assisting with major events. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sport management from UT and an MBA from Regis University.

Kolbe is a member of CSC/CoSIDA, and previously served on ECACSIDA, PRSA, and FPRA. He resides in Tampa with his wife, Antoinette, and their sons, Donovan and Lennox.