Erik Wirtanen graduated from Arizona State in 2001 with a B.S. in Recreation Management and Tourism. He got his start in the communications field as an undergrad with the ASU Athletics Media Relations office. He spent a year at the University of Portland as Assistant Sports Information Director before moving to Southern California in 2002. He worked as an Athletic Communications Assistant at UC Irvine from 2002 until 2010 when he moved across campus at UCI to join The Henry Samueli School of Engineering's communications office. After nearly four years at the Samueli School, Wirtanen took the opportunity to return to his alma mater and work in the communications office at the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering in August 2014.

The Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, native lives in Chandler with his two children.