Jay Vinson shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Jay, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
One of the biggest misunderstandings about my business—JV Athlete Advisory Services—is that it’s only about helping athletes with NIL deals or on-field performance. While we absolutely support athletes in those areas, our core mission runs much deeper. We’re about building the whole person behind the jersey. That includes mental wellness, leadership development, purpose discovery, and life beyond the game. Too often, people assume we’re just another agency or mentorship program, when in reality, we’re developing young men and women into leaders who thrive in sports, school, and life. We combine real-life coaching, mental health strategies, and career planning into a personalized, transformational experience.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jay Vinson, and I’m the founder of JV Athlete Advisory Services—a holistic brand dedicated to developing student-athletes beyond the game. As a mental wellness coach, educator, and certified athlete advisor through Sports Management Worldwide (SMWW), I bring over a decade of experience helping athletes discover their purpose, sharpen their mindset, and lead with intention—on and off the field.
What makes our brand unique is that we don’t just focus on athletic performance—we focus on the whole person. Through 1-on-1 advisory, leadership development, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) education, and mental wellness strategies, we equip the next generation of athletes to thrive in sports, school, and life. We also collaborate closely with parents, coaches, and schools to create a support system that extends far beyond the scoreboard.
Right now, we’re expanding our impact through our new website, school-based partnerships, national speaking engagements, and an upcoming documentary titled Bouncing Back from Adversity. At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: every athlete is more than a stat line—they’re a story in motion. And we’re here to help them write it with purpose.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a purpose-driven dreamer—a kid from Montgomery, Alabama, full of faith, curiosity, and a deep desire to help people. I didn’t know what success was supposed to look like, but I knew I wanted to make an impact. I loved encouraging others, asking big questions, and seeing people smile when they found hope. But as I got older, the pressure to “have it all together,” fit into certain boxes, or be strong no matter what started to weigh on me. I learned how to perform—but I also learned how to hide pain.
It took years—and some real-life adversity—for me to rediscover that the most powerful version of me wasn’t the one trying to impress people, but the one grounded in purpose, faith, and service. That’s who I was before the world stepped in—and that’s who I’ve returned to through my journey. Now, through JV Athlete Advisory Services, I help student-athletes reconnect with that same authentic version of themselves—before the world tells them who they “should” be.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain and started using it as power the moment I realized silence was costing me more than speaking up ever would. For years, I wore the mask of “being strong.” I showed up for everyone—students, athletes, family, church—while secretly battling depression, disappointment, and the pressure to be perfect. I kept telling myself, “Push through,” but deep down, I was breaking.
The turning point came when I finally gave myself permission to heal. I stopped pretending I was okay and began unpacking everything I had buried—childhood wounds, personal failures, heartbreak, and the pressure of expectations. That process didn’t weaken me—it freed me.
That’s when my purpose became clear. I wasn’t just called to coach athletes or teach leadership—I was called to help others navigate their pain too. Through JV Athlete Advisory Services, my books, and speaking engagements, I now use what once hurt me to help others heal. My pain didn’t disqualify me—it qualified me to lead with authenticity, empathy, and power.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m committed to the belief that developing the whole athlete—mind, body, and purpose—is the most impactful way to create lasting change in sports and society. And I’ve made it my life’s work to build spaces where student-athletes are seen, heard, and supported beyond the game.
That’s the heart behind JV Athlete Advisory Services and everything I do—from mental wellness coaching to leadership development, to my upcoming documentary Bouncing Back from Adversity. I’m not just chasing visibility—I’m building a legacy. Whether it takes five years or fifty, I’m committed to helping athletes and coaches break generational cycles, silence shame, and step into their purpose with boldness.
This work isn’t always flashy. It takes time, trust, and consistent presence—but it’s worth it. Because I believe that when we invest in the person, not just the performance, we build stronger teams, stronger leaders, and a stronger world.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
For years, I did what I thought I was supposed to do—checking the boxes, chasing titles, performing strength, and playing roles that others expected of me. But I reached a point where success without purpose felt empty. That’s when I had to confront the real question: Am I doing what I was born to do—or just what I was told to do?
That shift changed everything.
Now, I know I’m walking in what I was born to do. Through JV Athlete Advisory Services, I help student-athletes discover their purpose beyond the game. I coach, speak, write, and build systems that restore identity, not just results. I serve not to be seen, but to set others free.
Legacy to me isn’t about leaving behind a list of achievements—it’s about leaving behind alignment. I want people to say, “He lived in his calling, and he gave others permission to do the same.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jvathleteadvisory.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jvathleteadvisory/
- Twitter: https://x.com/JVAdvisory
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61578216956412
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
