---
title: University of Southern Mississippi Senior Leadership
canonical_url: https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/schools/university-of-southern-mississippi-865/departments/senior-leadership-32
tags:
- University of Southern Mississippi
- Senior Leadership
- DI
- Sun Belt
---

# University of Southern Mississippi Senior Leadership

- **Location:** Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- **Division:** DI
- **Conference:** Sun Belt

## Current Staff

| Name | Title | Years in Dept |
|------|-------|---------------|
| [Sonya Varnell](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Sonya-Varnell-2101522046) | Senior Associate AD for Olympic Sports / SWA | 16 |
| [Jeremy McClain](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Jeremy-McClain-2101539637) | Director of Athletics | 7 |
| [Lee Applewhite](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Lee-Applewhite-2101565297) | Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development | 10 |
| [Shawn Jones](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Shawn-Jones-2101540326) | Senior Deputy Athletics Director/Chief Operating Officer | 3 |
| [Spencer Bridges](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Spencer-Bridges-2101566196) | Deputy Athletics Director/Chief Revenue Officer | 3 |

## Department History

### Senior Leadership 2025-2026

| Person | Role |
|--------|------|
| [Jeremy McClain](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Jeremy-McClain-2101539637) | Director of Athletics |
| [Sonya Varnell](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Sonya-Varnell-2101522046) | Senior Associate AD for Olympic Sports / SWA |
| [Lee Applewhite](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Lee-Applewhite-2101565297) | Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development |
| [Shawn Jones](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Shawn-Jones-2101540326) | Senior Deputy Athletics Director/Chief Operating Officer |
| [Spencer Bridges](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Spencer-Bridges-2101566196) | Deputy Athletics Director/Chief Revenue Officer |

### Senior Leadership 2024-2025

| Person | Role |
|--------|------|
| [Jeremy McClain](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Jeremy-McClain-2101539637) | Director of Athletics |
| [Sonya Varnell](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Sonya-Varnell-2101522046) | Senior Associate AD for Olympic Sports / SWA |
| [Lee Applewhite](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Lee-Applewhite-2101565297) | Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development |
| [Shawn Jones](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Shawn-Jones-2101540326) | Senior Deputy Athletics Director/Chief Operating Officer |
| [Spencer Bridges](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Spencer-Bridges-2101566196) | Deputy Athletics Director/Chief Revenue Officer |

### Senior Leadership 2023-2024

| Person | Role |
|--------|------|
| [Jeremy McClain](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Jeremy-McClain-2101539637) | Director of Athletics |
| [E.K. Franks](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/E.K.-Franks-2101596153) | Executive Senior Associate AD for Student Athlete Services |
| [Sonya Varnell](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Sonya-Varnell-2101522046) | Sr. Associate AD for Olympic Sports / SWA |
| [Brian Morrison](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Brian-Morrison-2101537740) | Sr. Associate AD for Development |
| [Shawn Jones](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Shawn-Jones-2101540326) | Senior Deputy Athletics Director/Chief Operating Officer |
| [Spencer Bridges](https://wi-jobs.demo.winad-hq.com/Spencer-Bridges-2101566196) | Deputy Athletics Director/Chief Revenue Officer |