July 25, 2008

For Immediate Release
Contact: Staci Schottman, NAIA Director Public Relations and Communications, 816-595-8116

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is pleased to announce the hiring of Marcus Manning as director of membership services and Kristin Knopik as manager of championship sports. Manning and Knopik, in addition to Robert Haworth who was recently hired as Vice President for Champions of Character, will assume their duties on August 1. In addition to the new hires the NAIA recently announced the promotion of a vice president to a senior vice president role and several directors to vice president positions. The new hires and promotions are part of the NAIA strategic plan to advance character-driven intercollegiate athletics.

Manning recently served as assistant athletics director at Indiana University South Bend and as an academic coach through the National Football Foundation Play It Smart program at Washington High School (Ind.). At Indiana University South Bend, Manning managed the academic advising program, student-athlete life skills program and served as a liaison to the NAIA Faculty Athletics Committee. Manning was instrumental in integrating the university's athletic department with other constituents impacting event and student-athlete success. Manning was involved in numerous NAIA efforts that include service on the National Administrative Council, Conduct in Competition Committee and Conduct and Ethics Committee. Manning has nearly ten years of experience in athletic administration that also includes a stint at the University of California, Irvine as director of club sports and special events.

Manning received a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Quincy (Ill.) University and a Master of Science in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sports Management from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Manning will work closely with Israel Negrón, NAIA Director of Legislative Services, and respond to NAIA member institutions and affiliated conferences regarding rules and regulations. Manning will process legislative and eligibility waivers and appeals and serve as a staff liaison to selected committees in the NAIA legislative and governance structure. In addition, Manning's work will reflect the Association's commitment to increase the level of engagement of all NAIA colleges, universities and conferences. Manning will coordinate staff liaison relationships with affiliated conferences and independent institutions that include attendance at conference meetings, the development of education and resource materials for member institutions and conferences and coordinate NAIA membership applications.

Knopik, a former NAIA student-athlete (volleyball, basketball and golf), comes to the NAIA from Paul Henson YMCA where she served as sports director. She has experience in budgeting, organizing teams, coaches and officials, developing and implementing youth programs and supervising facility events. During the last four years Knopik has coached high school basketball. Knopik spent two seasons as the head girl's basketball coach at Barstow High School (Mo.) and assisted at Pembroke Hill (Mo.) where the Raiders won the 3A State Championship two seasons in a row. In addition to her work at the YMCA and coaching duties, Knopik is a certified Champions of Character presenter and speaks on behalf of the NAIA to various youth organizations throughout the Kansas City community.

Knopik received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing and Sports Management from William Jewell (Mo.) College and a Master in Sports Administration in Education from Gonzaga (Wash.) University. Knopik will organize and supervise the following four NAIA national championship events: Women's Soccer, Division II Women's Basketball, and Men's and Women's Golf. Knopik will serve as the on-site NAIA representative at each event and work closely with event hosts. Knopik will initiate site surveys and bid processing to identify new hosts and recommend potential host sites to the championship department. Knopik will also serve as a liaison to the Hall of Fame and Awards Committees and work with appropriate councils, committees and associations on various NAIA initiatives.

In addition to the new hires the NAIA recently promoted several key staff members. John Leavens, hired as NAIA Vice President in 2004, has been promoted to Senior Vice President. Leavens will oversee NAIA membership, Champions of Character, legislative services, public relations and communications. Leavens will work closely with his staff to ensure the NAIA and member institutions make an affirmative commitment and are held accountable to establish standards of quality and best practices in academics, eligibility, competition and character education for participating student-athletes and how to best communicate Association-wide outcomes.

Kevin Dee, who has been with the NAIA for 14 years, has been promoted to Vice President for Administration and Finance. Dee will oversee office and technology operations, equipment leases and other Association contracts and finances. In addition Dee will oversee the NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship and work closely with the tournament director and sponsorship account manager on the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship. The event is the oldest national collegiate tournament in any sport and is coined College Basketball’s Toughest Tournament. Dee will continue to serve as a liaison to select NAIA conferences.

Lori Thomas, hired by the NAIA in 1998 and who most recently served as Director of Championships and Human Resources, has been promoted to Vice President for Championships and Human Resources. Thomas will oversee the championships and sports information departments in addition to maintaining human resource responsibilities. Thomas is responsible for a staff that coordinates all logistics and details for 23 national championship events, emerging sports, site selection and contracts for championship hosts and budgets for coaches associations, councils and committees. Thomas is the office liaison to direct qualification. As the lead for human resources, Thomas oversees the hiring process and interviewing for new positions, management of the intern program and administration of staff benefits.

For additional information about the NAIA visit www.NAIA.org.

About the NAIA
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is the governing body for athletics programs at its nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. The long-held mission of the NAIA is to promote the education and development of well-rounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics. The Association offers equitable access and opportunities for participation in its 23 national championship events held annually throughout the country.

Today, the NAIA strengthens its commitment to student-athletes and strives to enrich their college experience by supporting academic achievement and character development. NAIA Champions of Character is the association's innovative flagship program designed to instill character values in student-athletes, coaches and youth in the communities it serves. To learn more visit www.NAIA.org.