Ayrton Oneill
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is a governing body for college and university athletic programs in the United States and Canada. Basketball has been a key part of the NAIA since its inception in 1937, with the inaugural tournament held in Kansas City, Missouri. From 1992 to 2020, basketball was the only NAIA sport with divisions, but effective with the 2020-21 academic year, the NAIA returned to a single division for both men's and women's basketball.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of formation | 1940 |
| Former name | National Association for Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB) |
| Current name | National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) |
| Headquarters | Kansas City, Missouri |
| Number of member institutions | 237 |
| Number of championships sponsored | 28 |
| Number of member conferences | 21 |
| Number of divisions | 1 |
| Additional sports sponsored | Men's golf, tennis, outdoor track and field |
| First association to admit colleges outside the US | Yes |
| First association to send a football team to Europe | Yes |
| First association to sanction flag football as a varsity sport for women | Yes |
| First association to allow student-athletes to be compensated for their name, image and likeness | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
NAIA basketball tournaments are now single-division
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has a rich history in basketball tournaments, dating back to 1937 when the inaugural tournament took place in Kansas City, Missouri. Over the years, the NAIA has undergone several transformations, and since 2022, the tournament has featured 64 teams competing at sixteen regional sites, with winners advancing to the final venue.
From 1992 to 2020, the NAIA sponsored two separate championships: one for Division I members and another for Division II. This division was based on enrollment numbers, with Division I schools typically having larger student bodies. However, effective with the 2020-21 academic year, the NAIA made the decision to return to a single division for both men's and women's basketball. This change was implemented for the 2021 season, with the NAIA Division II men's basketball championship being discontinued after its 2019 edition.
The decision to consolidate back into a single division was likely influenced by the NAIA's commitment to inclusivity and providing opportunities for smaller colleges and universities. By having a single division, the NAIA ensures that all member institutions have an equal chance to compete for the national championship title. This move aligns with the original goal of the tournament, which was to establish a platform for smaller educational institutions to excel in basketball and determine a true national champion.
The NAIA has consistently demonstrated its dedication to inclusivity and diversity in sports. In 1948, the association took a stand against racial discrimination by inviting historically black colleges and universities into its membership. This led to the first intercollegiate postseason tournament featuring a Black student-athlete, Clarence Walker, in the same year. The NAIA has also expanded beyond the United States, becoming the first association to admit international members, starting with Canada in 1967.
Today, the NAIA continues to thrive with a diverse range of member institutions. For the 2024-25 season, it boasted 237 member institutions, including two in British Columbia, one in the US Virgin Islands, and the rest across the continental United States. With over 83,000 student-athletes participating, the NAIA and its single-division basketball tournaments offer a unified platform for intercollegiate competition, fostering a spirit of sportsmanship and inclusivity.
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The NAIA began in 1937
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) began in 1937 with the inaugural National College Basketball Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri. The tournament was the brainchild of basketball inventor Dr. James Naismith, Emil Liston (director of the tournament and athletic director at Baker University), and Frank Cramer, the founder of Cramer Athletic Products. Eight teams competed for the title, with Central Missouri beating Morningside (Iowa) 35-24 to be crowned the first national champion. The tournament aimed to establish a forum for small colleges and universities to determine a national basketball champion.
The following year, in 1938, the tournament expanded to include 32 teams. The 1939 tournament saw the start of the Parade of Champions tradition, which still takes place at NAIA Championships today. On March 10, 1940, Emil Liston and other KC leaders attending the national tournament met to discuss taking the tournament beyond its current state, leading to the formation of the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB). The NAIB was renamed the NAIA in 1952, and with that came the sponsorship of additional sports such as men's golf, tennis, and outdoor track and field.
The NAIA has been an innovative leader in collegiate athletics. It was the first collegiate athletics association to invite historically black institutions into membership and the first to sponsor championships for both men's and women's sports. The NAIA began sponsoring intercollegiate championships for women in 1980, offering championships in basketball, cross country, gymnastics, indoor and outdoor track and field, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, and volleyball. The association has also been a leader in name, image, and likeness (NIL) reform, allowing student-athletes at its member institutions to be compensated for the use of their name, image, and likeness since 2014.
The NAIA men's basketball championship is the longest-running collegiate national championship of any sport in the United States. The tournament has been held annually since 1937, with the 2017 championship marking the 80th edition. From 1992 to 2020, basketball was the only NAIA sport in which the member institutions were divided into divisions. However, effective with the 2020-21 academic year, the NAIA returned to a single division for both men's and women's basketball.
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It has 21 member conferences
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is a college athletics association for colleges and universities in North America. It was established in 1940 and currently has 21 member conferences, including 9 that sponsor football. The NAIA has a rich history of promoting inclusivity and equality in sports. It was the first collegiate association to invite historically black colleges and universities into its membership in 1953. Furthermore, it was also the first association to admit colleges and universities from outside the United States, starting with Canadian members in 1967.
The 21 member conferences of the NAIA include a diverse range of institutions, with most of them offering athletic scholarships to their student-athletes. The association's commitment to accessibility is evident through its distribution of around $1.3 billion in athletic scholarship financial aid annually. This support enables over 83,000 student-athletes to participate in intercollegiate sports across various conferences.
The NAIA has a strong presence in the continental United States, with the majority of its member institutions located within this region. However, it also has a reach beyond, with two member institutions in British Columbia and one in the U.S. Virgin Islands for the 2024-25 season. This diverse range of locations provides a broad platform for intercollegiate athletics and fosters a sense of inclusivity.
The 21 member conferences of the NAIA are not static and have evolved over time. The association has shown its adaptability by consolidating and realigning divisions when needed. For example, football in the NAIA was split into two divisions in 1970 based on enrollment but was later consolidated back into a single division in 1997. This flexibility ensures that the organization can cater to the changing needs of its members and promote fair competition.
The NAIA has left an indelible mark on the history of basketball, with the inaugural National College Basketball Tournament taking place in 1937 in Kansas City, Missouri. This tournament, directed by George Goldman, set the stage for what would become an annual tradition. The NAIA has continued to foster the growth of basketball, with the 2017 men's championship marking the 80th edition of "College Basketball's Toughest Tournament." The association's long-standing dedication to the sport has created a legacy that resonates within the world of intercollegiate athletics.
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The NAIA was the first association to send a football team to Europe
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is a collegiate athletics association based in Kansas City, Missouri. It was founded in 1940 as the National Association for Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB) and changed its name to NAIA in 1952 when it began sponsoring additional sports. NAIA has over 20 member conferences, including 9 that sponsor football.
In 1976, the NAIA became the first association to send a football team to Europe. Henderson State and Texas A&I travelled to West Berlin, Vienna, Nuremberg, Mannheim, and Paris to play 5 exhibition games. This was a significant moment in the history of American football in Europe, which has since grown into a professional league with the establishment of the European League of Football (ELF).
NAIA has a rich history of breaking barriers and promoting inclusivity in sports. In 1953, it became the first collegiate association to invite historically black colleges and universities into its membership. The 1948 NAIB national tournament featured the first intercollegiate postseason participation of a Black student-athlete, Clarence Walker of Indiana State. NAIA also demonstrated its commitment to women's athletics by offering intercollegiate championships for women in various sports, including basketball, softball, and volleyball, beginning in 1980.
NAIA continues to innovate and lead in intercollegiate athletics. In 2020, it passed legislation allowing student-athletes to be compensated for the use of their name, image, and likeness. Additionally, in partnership with the National Football League (NFL), NAIA added flag football as a varsity sport for female student-athletes, becoming the first collegiate governing body to sanction the sport at that level.
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It was also the first to invite historically Black colleges and universities into its membership
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is a collegiate athletics association with 235 member colleges and universities for athletic competition in the 2025-26 season. It was formed in 1940 as the National Association for Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB) and became the NAIA in 1952. The NAIA is the governing body for basketball and sponsors 28 national championships across various sports.
The NAIA has a rich history of promoting inclusivity and diversity in college athletics. In 1948, the NAIB national tournament was the first intercollegiate postseason to feature a Black student-athlete, Clarence Walker of Indiana State, coached by John Wooden. This was a significant step forward, as Wooden had withdrawn from the previous year's tournament because the NAIB would not allow Walker to play. The NAIA further demonstrated its commitment to African-American athletes and inclusivity by becoming the first collegiate association to invite historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) into its membership in 1953. This move sent a powerful message of equality and provided opportunities for HBCUs to compete on a national stage.
The impact of this decision was far-reaching. In 1957, Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State) became the first HBCU to win a collegiate basketball national championship. This victory broke down racial barriers and inspired future generations of athletes. Following this, in 1959, Southern University became the first HBCU to win the NAIA Baseball Championship. These achievements highlighted the talent and competitiveness of HBCUs and helped foster a more diverse and inclusive athletic landscape.
The NAIA has continued to foster diversity and inclusion in sports. In 1980, it began sponsoring intercollegiate championships for women, becoming the second national athletics association to do so. This move ensured that female athletes had the opportunity to compete and excel in various sports, including basketball, softball, swimming and diving, and volleyball. Furthermore, in 2020, the NAIA, in partnership with the National Football League (NFL), introduced flag football as a varsity sport for female student-athletes, making it the first collegiate governing body to sanction the sport at that level.
Today, the NAIA remains committed to providing athletic opportunities for a diverse range of institutions and athletes. With over 83,000 student-athletes participating across member institutions, the NAIA promotes competition, character development, and sportsmanship through its Champions of Character program. By returning to a single division for both men's and women's basketball in the 2020-21 academic year, the NAIA further emphasizes the importance of inclusive and accessible athletic competitions.
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Frequently asked questions
Effective with the 2020-21 academic year, the NAIA returned to a single division for both men's and women's basketball.
From 1992 to 2020, basketball was the only NAIA sport in which the member institutions were divided into divisions. Before 1992, NAIA football was split into two divisions (Divisions I and II) based on enrollment, but it was consolidated into a single division in 1997.
NAIA stands for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, which has its headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri.
For the 2024-25 season, the NAIA had 237 member institutions, with two in British Columbia, one in the US Virgin Islands, and the rest in the continental US.
The NAIA sponsors 28 national championships, including football, basketball, golf, tennis, and track and field.
