Assistant Applied Sport Science Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Assistant Director of Counseling and Sport Psychology
Job no: 510737
Position type: Full-Time 12-Month
Department: 890116 - Athletics - Sport Psychology
Location: Main Campus - Starkville, MS
Categories: Professional
Position Open Date: Jun 4 2026
Position Function:
Responsible for the provision of general mental health, performance enhancement, and mental skills services (evaluation, treatment, and education) to student-athletes. Collaborates with head coaches, sport-specific general managers, athlete services, and talent management personnel in evaluating prospective student-athletes. Supports the coordination and relevant mental health skills training to coaches, athletic trainers, and other athletic department staff. Assists with coordination of service delivery for special cases to include substance use, disordered eating, and severe-persistent mental illness education and treatment.
The position reports to the Assistant AD - Counseling & Sport Psychology, takes close direction from the Senior Associate AD - Sports Medicine and team physicians, and serves as a member of the Wellness and Performance ecosystem within Bulldog Athlete Services.
Salary Grade: 15
Please see Staff Compensation Structure for salary ranges.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Provide clinical and sport-performance services for student-athletes including evaluation, treatment planning, progress monitoring, re-evaluation, and possible referral based on evidence-based practices.
2. Assist with providing consultation and outreach services to coaches, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning, nutrition and other administrative personnel regarding the psychological well-being of individual student-athletes and team members.
3. Engage in counseling-related activities including, but not limited to, maintaining counseling records, administering and interpreting psychological tests/inventories, referrals, and managing various organizational aspects of counseling cases.
4. Assist with coordination of service delivery for special cases to include substance use, disordered eating, and severe-persistent mental illness education and treatment.
5. Provide consultation regarding mental health crisis interventions and risk assessments; assist with facilitating higher level of care services for emergency mental health presentations when appropriate.
6. Assist with providing daytime, evening, and weekend crisis intervention and emergency services in situations involving individual student-athletes and/or teams.
7. Collaboration with CSP departmental members and key stakeholders for the wellbeing of MSU student-athletes (could include- Sports Medicine, Student-Athlete Experience, Academic Support Services, Strength & Conditioning, Sport Administrators, parents, and campus partners).
8. Assist with providing presentations for student-athletes, coaches, and Athletic Department staff members as requested by the director or groups.
9. Assist with providing supervision to interns, post-doctoral externs, and individuals seeking certification as a mental performance coach as outlined by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, if applicable.
10. Enter and maintain clinical documentation in applicable electronic medical records systems.
11. Perform special functions for the department as requested by the Assistant AD - Counseling & Sport Psychology, Deputy AD - Bulldog Athlete Services, and/or the Director of Athletics.
Supervisory Responsibility:
Provides direct supervision to post-doctoral fellows, pre-doctoral interns, and clinical psychology practicum students, if applicable.
Minimum Qualifications:
Master's in Counseling Psychology or Clinical Psychology, Counseling, or Social Work with 2-4 years of experience in Emerging Adult Population. Expertise in one or more of the following areas is required: experience with stress management, substance abuse and alcohol education, eating disorders, crisis management, depression, anxiety, grief, identity development, learning disabilities and other psychological issues related to injury, rehabilitation and return to sport in competitive athletes.
Certification or Licensure Requirements:
• Licensed as a psychologist or license-eligible in the State of Mississippi within within (6) months of employment, or
• Licensed in the State of Mississippi as a counselor or social worker within six (6) months of employment.
• Licensure must be maintained as a condition of employment.
Preferred Qualifications:
• PhD or PsyD in Counseling Psychology or Clinical Psychology.
• Advanced training in Sport Psychology, such as certification as a mental performance coach as outlined by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology or equivalent experience.
• 1-2+ years post-doctoral experience providing mental health services to athletes or serving as a primary mental health provider/consultant to a sport organization.
• 2-4+ years post-master's experience providing mental health services to athletes or serving as a primary mental health provider/consultant to a sport organization.
• Experience providing evidence-based sport performance consultation to athletic teams.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
1. Knowledge of psychotherapy and clinical/counseling psychology.
2. Knowledge of sport psychology and performance enhancement.
3. Knowledge of exercise science, kinesiology, and motor skill development.
4. Knowledge of rules governing the NCAA and SEC.
5. Ensures all assigned tasks are in compliance with University, SEC, and NCAA rules.
6. Knowledge of academic and psychological testing standards and principles.
7. Personal qualities and skills that enable effective interaction with the sport medicine staff, athletic department, colleagues, administrators, faculty, and student-athletes.
8. Commitment to diversity and demonstrated competency in multicultural counseling skills.
9. Knowledge of and adherence to professional, legal, ethical, and professional standards endorsed by licensing professional organization.
10. Ability to conceptualize, diagnose problems, and implement appropriate treatment solutions.
11. Ability to make accurate judgments concerning the physical, emotional, and educational welfare of student-athletes.
12. Ability to educate and present to the athletic department community a wide variety of psychological topics.
13. Ability to present and represent Mississippi State University at local, national, and international conferences.
14. Knowledge of community-based mental health resources.
15. Strong work ethic.
16. Ability to work evenings and weekend hours.
17. Ability to travel.
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
Frequent - externally imposed deadlines; set and revised beyond one's control; interruptions influence priorities; difficult to anticipate nature or volume of work with certainty beyond a few days; irregular hours may be anticipated; meeting of deadlines and coordination of unrelated activities are key to position.
Job frequently requires walking, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, handling objects with hands.
Job requires standing, stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling, and lifting up to 10 pounds
Vision requirements: ability to see information in print and/or electronically.
Hearing requirements: Heavy telephone contact requires ability to hear and respond to telephone conversations.
Instructions for Applying:
Please attach resume and cover letter to the application.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.
What do I do if I need an accommodation?
In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.
Advertised: Jun 04 2026 Central Daylight Time
Applications close:
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