Jim Carr
Jim Carr became the seventh president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in September 2006. Carr joined the NAIA in 1998 as managing director and general counsel and was promoted to chief operating officer, while retaining the title of general counsel in 2000.
As president and CEO, Carr provides leadership for a national staff, nearly 300 member institutions, over 45,000 student-athletes and thousands of coaches and athletic administrators. Carr is instrumental in driving revenue for the association, develops and implements programs to strengthen NAIA membership, ensures integrity in all NAIA programs and is the lead in membership recruitment efforts.
Carr practiced law with the full service law firm of Maynard, Cooper and Gale, P.C. in Birmingham, Ala. from 1994-1998. His primary areas of practice were public finance, corporate and intellectual property. Carr also served as director of licensing at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas from 1989-1991. At UNLV, Carr strengthened policing and marketing efforts which contributed to a 300% increase in royalty revenue from the 1990-91 academic year.
A native of Gulfport, Miss. Carr played college basketball at Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. where he recorded the men’s single season highs for three-point field goals made, three point field goal percentage and three pointers attempted. Carr understands the role athletics play in the growth of students and is challenged everyday to create opportunities that impact the lives of young adults through participation in sports and in the association’s signature program, Champions of Character.
Carr earned his B.B.A. in Management from Millsaps College in 1988, his M.S. in Sports Management from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1990, and his J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 1994. Carr’s professional and community involvement include work with the Alabama Bar Association, American Bar Association, Downtown Council in Kansas City, Mo., Impact Kansas City, Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church and Sports Lawyers Association. Carr sits on the board of directors for the Champions of Character Foundation, Missouri Bank and Trust and the Police Athletic League.
Carr works throughout the year with the NAIA Council of Presidents, consisting of 35 chief executives representing member institutions. His work with the council is focused on the implementation of a comprehensive strategic plan that successfully focuses the membership on character driven intercollegiate athletics. Carr leads the Board of Directors for the Champions of Character Foundation and plays a significant role in the growth and impact of the initiative. While providing strategic direction for an overhaul of qualification process, Carr is leading a membership wide effort to provide standards and best practices in all aspects of the NAIA and NAIA competition.
Jim is married to Delia, they have two children, Janie and Andrew. The Carr family resides in Fairway, Kansas and is active in the Kansas City community.
03.01.08
