The Director will lead a multidisciplinary mental health team and work collaboratively with the Chief Medical Officer, Sports Medicine, Sports Performance, Nutrition, and Academic Support to promote a holistic model of care. This individual will ensure that services align with best practices, NCAA and SEC standards, and the department’s commitment to student-athlete welfare and competitive excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

Clinical Care and Case Management (40%) Provide direct clinical services to student-athletes, including psychological assessments, and treatment planning. Ensure timely and accurate documentation consistent with professional, legal, and university standards. Coordinate and oversee referral processes with campus and community mental health providers to ensure continuity and quality of care. Supervise and guide clinical staff and trainees providing mental health services within athletics.

Education, Prevention, and Performance Optimization (25%) Design and deliver education and prevention programs to build mental health literacy and resilience among student-athletes, coaches, and staff. Integrate performance psychology concepts to support mental preparation, focus, and recovery. Partner with coaches and support staff to develop team-based initiatives that promote positive mental health culture and early intervention.

Collaboration and Integration (20%) Serve as a core member of the Sports Medicine and Performance leadership team to align care across all areas of student-athlete health and performance. Lead case management discussions and participate in multidisciplinary meetings to address complex or high-acuity cases. Collaborate with campus mental health, medical, and wellness offices to ensure seamless integration of care and resources.

Administration, Compliance, and Leadership (10%) Develop, implement, and evaluate mental health policies, emergency response procedures, and best-practice protocols. Ensure compliance with NCAA, SEC, and institutional guidelines related to mental health and student-athlete wellbeing. Provide leadership, supervision, and professional development for the athletics mental health team. Manage program operations, including budgeting, staffing, and strategic planning initiatives.

Professional Development and Strategic Consultation (5%) Stay current with emerging research, legislation, and best practices in collegiate and sport-specific mental health. Advise the Chief Medical Officer, Director of Athletics, and senior leadership on policy development, staffing needs, and resource allocation to support student-athlete wellbeing. Represent Mizzou Athletics in conference, NCAA, and national forums on mental health in sports.

About University of Missouri Athletics Department

Established in 1839, the University of Missouri knows what it means to be first. We were the first public university west of the Mississippi River. We are home to the world’s first journalism school. We started the tradition of homecoming. As a flagship, land-grant institution and one of only 65 universities across the U.S. and Canada to be a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, we are a campus where empathy, innovation and hard work combine to solve the world’s grand challenges. Our community of students, faculty and staff enhances bovine reproduction, composes award-winning music and generates life-saving radioisotopes in the most powerful university research reactor in the country. We tackle diverse problems because Missouri is a diverse state — from the southern Ozarks to the northern plains. We are Mizzou, where Black and Gold runs deep and Truman the Tiger embodies our bold spirit.

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