Assistant Athletic Director of Communications

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for visa sponsorship. The University will not sponsor applicants for work visas (e.g., H-1B).

Job Summary

The Assistant Athletic Director for Communications plays a key leadership role within Southern Miss Athletics Communications and assists in developing and executing the department’s overall communications, storytelling, and social media strategy. This position serves as the primary communications contact for Southern Miss Men’s Basketball and other assigned sports while providing strategic communications support across the department’s Division I athletics programs. The position works closely with coaches, student-athletes, athletics leadership, creative services, marketing, and other external units to strengthen the Southern Miss brand, increase media exposure, and engage fans across traditional, digital, and social platforms. The Assistant Athletic Director also assists with the day-to-day management of Athletics Communications, including staff development, content planning, media relations, website management, and communications strategy.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist in the development and execution of a comprehensive communications strategy for Southern Miss Athletics, including proactive storytelling, earned media, brand visibility, and consistent messaging across the department.

• Serve as the primary communications contact for Southern Miss Men's Basketball and other assigned sports, coordinating media relations and operations, interview requests, press conferences, credentials, statistics, game-day communications, and pre- and postgame media availability.

• Assist with the daily management of Athletics Communications and provide leadership, direction, and professional development for communications staff, graduate assistants, interns, and student workers.

• Develop and maintain relationships with local, regional, and national media while identifying opportunities to generate coverage and producing stories, press releases, features, announcements, and other communications highlighting Southern Miss teams, coaches, student-athletes, and departmental initiatives.

• Collaborate with creative services, marketing, photography, and other external units to develop and execute digital and social media strategies and ensure appropriate coverage that increases engagement, strengthens the Southern Miss brand, and expands the reach of athletics content.

• Assist with the strategic management and daily maintenance of SouthernMiss.com, ensuring accurate, timely, and engaging content across sport and departmental pages.

• Stay current on emerging communications platforms, technologies, media trends, and industry best practices and identify opportunities to enhance the visibility and storytelling capabilities of Southern Miss Athletics.

• Perform other duties and communications responsibilities as assigned.