Spotlight on Sport Psychology & Counseling: Bruce Buggs, II

Mind

Apr 9

Bruce Buggs II, a native of Alexandria, La., began his career with LSU in 2017 and is the Assistant Director of Mental Health for Student-Athletes. Bruce obtained his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Southern University in 2004 and completed his graduate degree in Psychological Counseling at Nicholls State University in 2006.

While challenging student-athletes to make mental health their best strategy, Bruce has a proactive approach in teaching resiliency, help student-athletes establish useful habits, and encouraging a growth-mindset. Bruce also promotes teamwork ideas to improve team performance with topics on leadership and team building activities.

Bruce says that he always knew he wanted to work in a college setting after graduate school. “I chose my profession out of challenges as a past athlete and today to be able to combine the mental game with my love for sport is a dream job for me.”

Bruce says that one of his favorite parts of his job is getting the opportunity to see student-athletes change and adjust their mindset to gain better control of their thoughts which often lead to improved results. “Whether a student-athlete is having a different outlook regarding their life circumstances or has improved their focus in their sport or in the classroom, the individual work that student-athletes do to get better is satisfying to experience with them.”

A fun fact about Bruce is that he grew up watching LSU sports and would attend LSU basketball camps during high school. His favorite memories are meeting his high school idol Penny Hardaway (Memphis Tigers basketball coach) during an LSU home basketball game and meeting Mahmoud Abdul Rauf while working with the LSU Men's Basketball team. “Mahmoud was literally the inspiration for why I played basketball growing up and it was an honor to finally meet him when LSU retired his number 35 jersey last year.”