John Lukach was hired as Cornell's first Director of Multimedia & Production in September 2013. In August 2019, he was promoted to Assistant Director of Athletics for Multimedia & Production. In August 2023, Lukach was promoted to Associate Director of Athletics for Video Production & Recruiting Services. Lukach oversees live video broadcasts and the various in-venue video board productions. During his time at Cornell, he has added 10 additional sports being live streamed and helped to design the department's first centralized control room to produce all home events. He has taken on a larger role working closely with campus IT to make sure network infrastructure in facilities were ready in preparation for the transition to ESPN during the 2018-19 season. The number of broadcasts Cornell provides has risen since his start, while continually seeing an increase in viewership numbers by sport as well. He has spearheaded a change in the way the department handles media days for each team and continues to work closely with each team to assist with bettering the digital assets provided for their use on social media. Lukach is the sport administrator for baseball.
Lukach earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations, along with a degree in radio/TV from the University of Akron in 2010. He earned his master’s degree in sport administration in 2012. While at Akron, Lukach worked as an undergrad on ZipsVision, the athletic production crew. He was brought back after graduating in 2010 to take the role as the Graduate Assistant for ZipsVision, which he held for two years. John earned a Certificate in Marketing Strategy from Cornell University in 2015. Lukach's article, "Examination of the Relationship Between Fan Identification and Student Utilization of Social Media in a NCAA Division I University," was published in the Ohio Communication Journal in February 2017.
Prior to joining the Big Red staff, Lukach served as the intern for video and new media at the America East Conference office in Boston, Mass. from August 2012 to May 2013. He helped to expand the use of video, new media and assisted with the strategic media plan for the conference as a whole.
Lukach has volunteered at the 2013 NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four in New Orleans and at the 2011, 2013 and 2016 WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.
Lukach is a native of North Canton, Ohio and currently resides in Cortland, N.Y. with his wife Abby and their three dogs, Bruce, Toby and Gus.
