2004-2005 NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Tournament

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS fl" 1 1 From Equal Opportunity to the Highest Academic Standards THE RIGHT GAME FOR LIFE. "'™ A HISTORY OF LEADERSHIP 1937 National Small College Basketball Tournament staged at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri (first NAIA championship). 1938 Basketball tournament expands to 32 teams. 1940 National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB) formed; first convention held. 1944 No basketball tournament staged (World War II). 1948 Black student-athletes participate in NAIB basketball tournament. 1952 NAIB adopts new moniker - National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and introduces men's championships for golf, tennis, and outdoor track and field. 1953 Predominantly black institutions are admitted into full membership. 1956 Baseball, cross country, football, and swimming and diving championships added for men. 1957 NAIA headquarters moves from the campus of George Pepperdine College in Los Angeles to Kansas City, Missouri. 1958 to 1969 Men's championships added for wrestling (' 58), soccer(' 59), bowling* ('62), gymnastics* ('64), indoor track and field ('66) and volleyball* (' 69). (*no longer sponsored) 1976 Basketball championship moves to Kemper Arena in Kansas City after 38 years in Municipal Auditorium. 1980 NAIA becomes first national association to sponsor both men's and women's championships by adding women's basketball, cross country, gymnastics*, "The central aim of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is for collegiate athletics to be an integral part of the total educational program of the institution, with emphasis upon instilling high ethical and moral character, health and leadership- citizenship traits in our youth." Al 0. Duer, NAIA executive secretary-treasurer NAIA District meeting- Februaty 16, 19ro indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, and volleyball championships. (*no longer sponsored) 1984 Women's soccer championship added. 1986 NAIA Council of Presidents moves from advisory to governance role. LEADERS WITH LONG-RANGE VISION NA.LA Chief Executives 1940-1949 Emil S. Liston 1949-1975 Al 0. Duer 1975-1986 Harry Fritz 1986-1990 Jefferson D.Farris 1991-1996 James R. Chasteen 1997-present Steve Baker 1987 Men's basketball championship celebrates 50th anniversary. 1988 Strict academic eligibility standards for all participating student-athletes adopted. 1990 New NAIA governance structure adopted, with the Council of Presidents and the National Coordinating Committee leading the association along with the Council of Athletics Administrators, the Council of District Chairs and the Council of Faculty Athletics Representatives. 1991 Basketball championships (men's and women's) split into two divisions. 1993 NAIA headquarters move from Kansas City to Tulsa, Oklahoma, moving with it the men's Division I basketball; membership votes to institute affiliated conference and regional groupings. 1995 Women's golf is added as an NAIA-sponsored national championship. 1998 NAIA hosts first Spring Championship Garnes with eight championships in two weeks. 1999 NAIA restructures to include 14 regions to better serve its membership. 2000 NAIA introduces "Champions of Character" initiative along with its new brand emphasizing character development among NAIA student-athletes and youth sports. 2001 NAIA headquarters relocates to Olathe, Kansas.