Marshall University Athletics
Deja James Named Senior Associate AD For Student-Athlete Welfare
5/15/2026 9:58:00 AM | General, Student-Athlete Health and Wellness, Student-Athlete Success
Herd’s new senior administrator from Austin Peay has extensive wellness background
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald J. Harrison announced the hiring of Deja James as the new Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Welfare on Friday.
"I am incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to join Marshall University Athletics," James said. "I want to sincerely thank Gerald Harrison, Niesha Campbell and their athletics team for their confidence in me. Marshall's commitment to excellence and community is truly special, and I am honored for the opportunity to run with the Herd and contribute to the continued success of the university."
James comes to Marshall after spending the last three years at Austin Peay where she served as the Assistant Director of Athletics for Sport Psychology and Behavioral Health.
"We are incredibly excited to welcome Deja James to Marshall," Harrison said. "She is a dynamic and innovative leader whose experience across the SEC, Big 12 and ASUN reflects a career spent at institutions that prioritize excellence in the student-athlete experience. Deja brings a rare and powerful combination of skills as both a certified athletic trainer and an accomplished behavioral health professional. Her background overseeing comprehensive student-athlete development initiatives reinforces our commitment to being one of the most complete and forward-thinking athletics departments in the country."
While at Austin Peay, James worked with the Governors' 16 programs, as well as coaches, staff members and medical personnel, to integrate mental health strategies that maximized the overall performance for more than 400 student-athletes.
James also was a liaison between Austin Peay Athletics and several internal and external health organizations to build a robust mental health network to serve as a resource for student-athletes, coaches and staff for the Governors.
As part of Austin Peay Athletics' Senior Leadership Team, James served in various roles, including Interim Senior Woman Administrator, Athletics Wellness Team Director and Student-Athlete Advisory Council Advisor.
At the university level, James also was a member of the President's Leadership Development Program and served as a President's Emerging Leaders Program mentor while also being on the APSU Governors Care Team and Carnegie Community Engagement Classification Steering Committee.
"Her innovative approach, extensive education and broad experience make her uniquely positioned to educate and support our coaches, staff and student-athletes," Harrison said. "She will play a critical role in ensuring that Marshall is not only a destination for competitive success, but a place that prepares our student-athletes for life in an ever-changing world. We are excited for the energy, expertise and passion she brings to our department and the Huntington community."
Prior to her time at Austin Peay, James served as Assistant Director of Mental Health and Wellness and Sport Psychology at Kansas State from 2022-23.
While in Manhattan, James provided direct individual and group psychological services and created and presented educational workshops and programming to the Wildcats student-athletes.
A 2019 graduate of the University of Alabama, James began her sports psychology career at her alma mater in a dual role with the Crimson Tide athletics department, serving as a behavioral and mental health counselor, as well as an athletic training professional.
In her three years in Tuscaloosa, she collaborated with the director of behavioral medicine on all related programming for Alabama's student-athletes.
James earned her Bachelor's degree in Athletic Training at Alabama in 2019 and completed her Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Alabama in 2021.
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