Assistant Athletic Director of Communications

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

1. 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.

2. 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.

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

4. 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.

5. 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.

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

7. 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.

8. Perform other duties and communications responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications 

Bachelor’s degree from four-year college or university in business, marketing, sport management, or other related field. Two to three years’ experience in an athletic department or other related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of intercollegiate athletics communications, media relations, public relations, marketing, and strategic communications principles and practices.

• Ability to develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive communications strategies that promote the visibility, reputation, and success of the Athletics Department.

• Ability to effectively communicate and tell the stories of student-athletes, coaches, teams, and the Athletics Department through written, digital, social media, and multimedia platforms.

• Excellent written, verbal, editing, proofreading, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with university administrators, coaches, student-athletes, faculty, staff, media representatives, alumni, donors, and the general public.

• Ability to manage multiple projects, competing priorities, and strict deadlines while maintaining accuracy, organization, and attention to detail.

• Ability to develop and maintain consistent messaging, branding, and communications standards across departmental platforms and initiatives.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with athletics administration, coaches, marketing, creative services, development, ticketing, compliance, and university communications to achieve departmental goals.

• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours as required, including attendance at athletic events, media activities, and postseason competitions.