Ayrton Oneill
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is a college athletics association for colleges and universities in North America. The NAIA men's basketball championship is the longest-running collegiate national championship of any sport in the United States. The tournament was established by James Naismith, the creator of the game of basketball, to crown a national champion for smaller colleges and universities and has been held annually since 1937, except in 1944 due to World War II and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The championship has been held mostly in Kansas City, Missouri, and has been broadcast by CBS Sports Network and ESPNU.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1937 |
| Founder | Dr. James Naismith |
| Other founders | Emil Liston, Frank Cramer |
| No. of teams | 64 |
| No. of rounds | 2 |
| No. of sites | 16 |
| Championship venue | Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri |
| No. of member institutions | 237 |
| No. of student-athletes | 83,000+ |
| National media outlet | CBS Sports Network |
| Scholarship amount | $1.3 billion |
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What You'll Learn
Tournament format and rules
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is a college athletics association for colleges and universities in North America. The NAIA men's basketball championship is the longest-running collegiate national championship of any sport in the United States. The tournament was established in 1937 by James Naismith, the creator of the game of basketball, to crown a national champion for smaller colleges and universities.
The tournament has been held annually since 1937, except in 1944 due to World War II and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From 1992 to 2020, the NAIA sponsored two championships, one for Division I members and another for Division II members. The Division I tournament was played in Kansas City, Missouri, while the Division II tournament moved locations several times. In 2022, the tournament format changed to feature 64 teams, with the first two rounds played at 16 separate sites. The winners of these regionals then advance to the final venue, which has been in Kansas City every year except from 1994 to 2001 when it was played in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The NAIA has a rich history of promoting diversity and inclusion in college athletics. In 1948, it became the first national organization to open its intercollegiate postseason to black student-athletes. In 1953, it furthered its commitment to African-American athletes by inviting historically black colleges and universities into its membership. The first historically black institution to win a collegiate basketball national championship was Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State) in 1957.
The NAIA men's basketball championship is a highly anticipated event, with the 2025 edition featuring 15 games, all streamed online for fans worldwide. The tournament also offers various experiences for attendees, including visits to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the College Basketball Experience and Hall of Fame.
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History of the tournament
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) was established in 1940 as a college athletics association for colleges and universities in North America. The association grew out of a basketball tournament held in 1937 in Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium, which was the brainchild of Emil S. Liston, Dr. James Naismith (the inventor of basketball), Frank Cramer, and a group of Kansas City business leaders. The goal of the tournament was to crown a national champion for smaller colleges and universities.
The 1937 tournament was the first National College Basketball Tournament, one year before the first National Invitation Tournament and two years before the first NCAA tournament. It featured eight teams, which expanded to 32 teams the following year. In 1940, the first convention of the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB) was held. In 1947, Indiana State Coach John Wooden refused to participate in the NAIA National Tournament because Clarence J. Walker, the only Black player on his team, was not allowed to play. In 1948, Wooden was able to bring Walker to the tournament, making him the first African-American student-athlete to play in the NAIA tournament.
In 1952, the NAIB was transformed into the NAIA, and the association adopted its first comprehensive set of rules and standards. The following year, the NAIA became the first collegiate association to invite historically Black colleges and universities into its membership. In 1957, Tennessee State became the first historically Black college to win a national championship, and the first team to win three consecutive tournaments.
Since 1992, the NAIA has sponsored a Division II championship, and the tournament has been held in Kansas City, Missouri (DI) and Point Lookout, Missouri (DII). In 2018, the NAIA announced a new format for the 2021 tournament after the merger of D-I and D-II, with 64 teams participating. The tournament has been held annually since its inception, except in 1944 due to World War II and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Past winners
The NAIA Men's Basketball Championship is the longest-running collegiate national championship in the United States. Established in 1937 by James Naismith, the tournament has been held annually since, except in 1944 due to World War II and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The College of Idaho are the reigning NAIA national champions, winning their second title in 2025. Oklahoma City holds the record for the most tournament championships with six.
In 1957, Tennessee State became the first historically black college to win a national championship, and the first team to win three consecutive tournaments. As of 2017, Kentucky State is the only other school to achieve this feat, winning three consecutive championships from 1970 to 1972.
In 1948, Clarence Walker of Indiana State became the first Black student-athlete to compete in the NAIA tournament. Walker, a vital role player, helped Indiana State finish as the national finalist.
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Venues
The NAIA Men's Basketball Championship is held annually by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to determine the national champion of men's college basketball among its members in the United States and Canada. The tournament was established in 1937 by James Naismith, the creator of the game of basketball, to crown a national champion for smaller colleges and universities. The tournament has been held every year since, except in 1944 due to World War II and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since 2022, the tournament has featured 64 teams, with the first two rounds played at 16 separate regional sites. The winners of those regionals then advance to the final venue. From 1992 to 2020, NAIA sponsored two championships, one for its Division I members and another for its Division II members. The Division I tournament was played in Kansas City, Missouri, while the Division II tournament moved locations several times.
The Men's Basketball Championship is mostly played at the Municipal Auditorium in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri, which has been the venue for the tournament every year since its inception, except from 1994 to 2001 when it was played in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Kansas City will continue to host the tournament until at least 2024. In addition to the Municipal Auditorium, teams have the opportunity to visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the College Basketball Experience and Hall of Fame in Kansas City.
The NAIA has also accommodated venue changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, in 2021, the Indoor Track and Field Championship was relocated to Mount Marty University, and adjustments were made to safely host the event, including a reduction in qualifiers and an extension of the schedule to accommodate morning, afternoon, and evening sessions.
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Player eligibility
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is a college athletics association for colleges and universities in North America. The NAIA men's basketball championship is the longest-running collegiate national championship of any sport in the United States. The tournament was established by James Naismith to crown a national champion for smaller colleges and universities and has been held annually since 1937, except in 1944 due to World War II and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since 2022, the tournament has featured 64 teams, with the first two rounds played at 16 separate regional sites. The winners of these regionals then advance to the final venue. The tournament MVP is presented with the Chuck Taylor Most Valuable Player award, which has been given out since 1939.
Regarding player eligibility, the NAIA has a rich history of advocating for the inclusion of Black student-athletes. In 1948, it became the first national organization to open its intercollegiate postseason to Black student-athletes. This was due to the media attention surrounding the Manhattan Jaspers, an all-white team that withdrew from the tournament when the NAIA refused to rescind its rule prohibiting Black players. In 1953, the NAIA furthered its commitment to African-American athletes by becoming the first collegiate association to invite historically Black colleges and universities into its membership. As a result, in 1957, Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State) became the first historically Black institution to win a collegiate basketball national championship.
However, in 2024, the NAIA instituted a controversial ban on transgender men who have begun hormone therapy and all transgender women from competing in women's sports, except for cheerleading and dance. This decision has been criticized by many and is a topic of ongoing debate.
The NAIA also has rules and regulations regarding player eligibility in the context of conference automatic berths and at-large berths. For example, if a conference tournament runner-up has already received an automatic berth to the national tournament, the bid will be converted to an at-large berth determined by the Basketball National Selection Committee. Additionally, the NAIA allows for replacement teams if a conference or regional grouping champion must withdraw due to unforeseen circumstances, such as COVID-19.
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Frequently asked questions
Since 2022, the tournament has featured 64 teams, with teams beginning play at one of sixteen regional sites with the winners of those regionals playing at the final venue.
The championship has mostly been held at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri, every year since the tournament began, except from 1994 to 2001 when it was played in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and in 2020 when no tournament was held.
The tournament was established by James Naismith in 1937 to crown a national champion for smaller colleges and universities. It has been held annually since, except in 1944 due to World War II and 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
From 1992 to 2020, the NAIA sponsored two championships, one for Division I members and another for Division II. In 2021, after the merger of D-I and D-II, a new format was introduced, with the men's and women's tournaments each involving 64 teams.
