Description

Position Title: Director of Athletics Mental Health & Performance

Department: Athletics Department

Reports To: Senior Associate Athletic Director of Sports Performance

Position Summary: 

The Director of Athletics Mental Health & Performance will oversee Athletics Mental Health & Performance, providing strategic leadership, education, administrative management, clinical engagement, management of outside contractors and technology apps, and development of a comprehensive strategy to support and maintain a culture of wellness and performance at Davidson. This role includes conducting relevant training, offering consultation and educational outreach to scholar-athletes, coaches, and athletics department staff, supporting counseling and crisis services, and triaging potential clinical cases for referral to Davidson College’s Student Health & Well-Being Center. The Director will collaborate with various stakeholders, including coaches, administrators, scholar-athletes, sports performance personnel, and both on- and off-campus counseling services, to ensure comprehensive care and support for the personal, academic, and athletic success of scholar-athletes. Additionally, the Director will be instrumental in developing and implementing policies and procedures tailored to the needs of scholar-athletes, coaches and staff.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Leadership & Administration

Provides vision, leadership, and strategic direction for the Mental Health and Performance division.
Creates a plan to develop future staff, interns, trainees and consultants.
Develops departmental policies, procedures, strategic initiatives, and annual goals.
Manages departmental budget, resources, and operational planning.
Leads program assessment, outcome evaluation, and quality improvement efforts.
Serves as the primary advisor to Athletics leadership regarding scholar-athlete mental health and performance initiatives.
Maintains partnerships with campus and community stakeholders to enhance support services for scholar-athletes.

Sports Psychology, Education & Programming

Facilitates performance sessions (both 1-on-1 and team) and workshops for scholar-athletes, coaches, athletics staff, and campus partners.
Designs and implements educational programming focused on sports psychology, mental health, mental performance, resilience, leadership development, life skills, and overall well-being.
Supports initiatives through Student Health and Well-Being that address anxiety, depression, adjustment concerns, eating disorders, burnout, trauma, substance misuse, and other challenges commonly experienced by scholar-athletes.
Coordinates clinical referrals for specialized care of scholar-athletes to Student Health & Well-Being.
Maintains timely, accurate, and confidential documentation in accordance with professional standards and applicable laws.

Crisis Management 

Supports crisis intervention and emergency response efforts involving scholar-athlete mental health concerns in conjunction with Student Health & Well-Being.
Consults with athletics leadership and healthcare providers regarding risk assessment and management within reason and what is allowed by confidentiality boundaries.
Develops and maintains crisis response protocols and emergency procedures.

Compliance & Collaboration

Ensures departmental compliance with NCAA legislation, NCAA Mental Health Best Practices, Atlantic 10 Conference, Pioneer Football League, and Southern Conference policies, college regulations, state law, and professional ethical standards.
Participates in college, conference, and national committees focused on scholar-athlete health and wellness.
Remains informed regarding emerging NCAA, conference, and intercollegiate athletics mental health initiatives.
Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders including as a contributing member of the Student Health & Well-Being C.A.R.E. Team

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s degree in sports psychology or a terminal degree in another appropriate human services field.
Licensed in the State of North Carolina in a relevant field or licensed in another state and eligible for North Carolina licensure.
Minimum of 3-4 years of experience working with scholar-athletes in an athletic setting.
Experience providing performance enhancement strategies as well as supporting counseling, mental health services and crisis intervention.
Ability to work with a diverse student population and adapt to various backgrounds and cultures.

Preferred Qualifications:

Doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology or Counseling Education, with specialized training in sports psychology.
Strong understanding of the unique pressures and challenges faced by collegiate athletes.
Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
Proficiency in assessment and therapeutic intervention techniques.
Knowledge of NCAA regulations and compliance issues related to mental health services.
Experience in short-term counseling and interest in working with diverse and/or underrepresented college student populations.
Expertise in outreach programming and consultation skills.
Knowledge of current research in sports psychology, counseling, and college student development.
Experience working with a scholar-athlete population in a Division I athletics department.
Knowledge and experience in managing professional boundaries and ethics.
Due to the nature/scope of Athletics and Athletics events, position may require work during evenings, weekends, and holidays, as well as the ability to stand / walk for extended periods of time and occasional travel.

As a staff member of Davidson Athletics, the selected candidate will be a person of integrity and character who knows / complies with NCAA, Conference, and institutional rules as they apply to the Davidson Athletics program. This person must also have a high cultural competence and ability to work across a wide range of people, backgrounds and experiences.

Information about how to submit an application can be found at https://employment.davidson.edu 
 
About Us

Davidson is a highly selective, nationally ranked, residential liberal arts college located in Davidson, North Carolina, near Charlotte. We seek to hire talented faculty and staff who are committed to achieving excellence within an inclusive community where diverse backgrounds and perspectives are valued.