Oct. 1, 2008

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On Wednesday, October 1, leadership from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) gathered at the Association’s national headquarters located in the heart of downtown Kansas City to address the HAAC’s host status, responsibilities and goals for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship beginning in March 2009. Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO, Larry Lady, HAAC Commissioner, and Dr. Bonnie Humphrey, HAAC President, met with members of the media and spoke to the following three areas the host partnership will focus on: enhancing the student-athlete and fan experience, improving the financial position of the championship event and creating a broader team of collegiate administrators to assist in the operation of the six day basketball extravaganza.

“The NAIA is pleased to award host conference status to the HAAC. The Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship is an NAIA and Kansas City tradition dating back to 1937, and I am confident the HAAC will help us grow College Basketball’s Toughest Tournament.” said Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO. “I would like to thank Buffalo Funds and the HAAC for their commitment to character driven athletics and this national event and I look forward to a successful partnership for many years to come.”

The HAAC will have official host conference status for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship beginning in 2009 through 2011. This is the first year the HAAC will compete in Division I and will automatically receive two berths and one additional host berth into national championship tournament play. The HAAC is made up of the following members: Avila (Mo.), Baker (Kan.), Benedictine (Kan.), Central Methodist (Mo.), Culver-Stockton (Mo.), Evangel (Mo.), Graceland (Iowa), Lindenwood (Mo.), MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), Missouri Valley and William Jewell (Mo.). The HAAC will have set criteria to determine the college or university awarded the host berth.

“As host conference the Heart of America Athletic Conference is excited to work with the NAIA. The HAAC will work to enhance and improve upon an already very successful and unique tournament experience,” said Larry Lady, HAAC Commissioner. “The HAAC looks forward to earning the host berth so that a third HAAC men’s basketball team is guaranteed an opportunity to compete for a national championship in the 2009 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship.”

The Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship is coined College Basketball’s Toughest Tournament and is the longest continuous national collegiate tournament in any sport dating back to 1937. The tournament, which takes place at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo., features 31 games, 600 participants and averages 40,000 fans.

"Speaking on behalf of the Council of Presidents for the Heart of America Athletic Conference, we are excited to be able to participate in the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Basketball Tournament. Our conference is made up of 11 outstanding institutions of higher education.  Each individual institution is committed to providing students with an outstanding educational experience in which intercollegiate athletics play an integral part,” said Dr. Bonnie Humphrey, HAAC President. “Collectively, we make up one of the strongest conferences in the nation. We believe in our student–athletes, we are dedicated to their success, and we believe that participation in the NAIA provides our students a wonderful opportunity to develop work ethic, leadership skills and the joy of teamwork that will serve them well into their life after college."

The 72nd Annual Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship will take place March 18-24, 2009. To learn more visit www.NAIA.org.