“I’ve seen the power of sports change people’s lives,” says Perry Goldsbury, St. Andrew’s new director of athletics. “My vision is to use that power to grow the community and school spirit here at St. Andrew’s.” Goldsbury, who stepped into his new leadership position on June 1, was already known in the St. Andrew’s community as a leader in the classroom and on the field. He joined the St. Andrew’s faculty in 2018 as a 7th-grade science teacher and in 2021, was named head boys’ soccer coach.
Originally from England, Goldsbury relocated to the United States to play collegiate soccer. He holds an undergraduate degree in exercise science from the University of Texas–Brownsville and a master’s in advanced exercise physiology from Mississippi College, where he also served as a graduate assistant for the men’s soccer team.
In addition to his work at St. Andrew’s, Goldsbury served as the director of coaching for four years with Mississippi Rush, the largest recreational soccer program in the state. Perry led a coaching staff of over 40, building valuable skills that will transfer to his leadership role at St. Andrew’s. “My experience with Mississippi Rush included creating initiatives to engage more participants,” Goldsbury says. “I also have extensive experience working with parents and coaches, which I believe will be very helpful in my work as director of athletics.”
Goldsbury hit the ground running with a plan to grow athletic opportunities across all divisions. One of his first steps has been expanding the Lower School athletics program to offer younger students more opportunities to participate. Goldsbury launched two new intramural offerings at the Lower School – flag football and soccer – and revamped intramural basketball to better fit the abilities and needs of Lower School students and families.
“Giving younger students more opportunities to play and increasing engagement will help develop more and better athletes once they move into high school, but that’s not the only outcome,” Goldsbury says. “Strengthening athletics at the Lower School level also provides St. Andrew’s families more opportunities to come together, and fosters school spirit across the divisions. I’ve seen how important sports are in the South, not just for the athletes and for enrollment, but to school communities. I love Friday night football here.”
His drive to offer more athletic options for younger students also comes from personal experience. Goldsbury began playing sports at the age of six and credits his athletic experiences with instilling the self-confidence he has today. “I was a shy child, but sports gave me a belief in myself, which translated throughout my life and certainly helped lead me to the position I’m in now,” Goldsbury says. “Today, with the influx of technology, that’s especially important. Many young children lack interpersonal skills. Sports have a great way of bringing people together and teaching people how to work together to achieve a common goal.”
Goldsbury looks forward to building on the tradition of excellence that’s earned St. Andrew’s Mississippi’s All-Sports Award a record 28 times. “As a coach, I’ve always demanded excellence from my players. I’ll be working hard to set a new standard of excellence for myself in all areas of our athletic department. Go Saints.”
