The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, a 10-member conference of NCAA Division II institutions in Missouri and Kansas, was first organized in 1912 as the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

Over the past 15 years, the league has undergone several changes, highlighted by expansion and increased participation in national championships.

The MIAA has gained the reputation of being one of the top NCAA Division II conferences in the nation. MIAA student-athletes have won 11 national championships and more than 100 individual national titles.

The MIAA currently conducts conference championships in eight men's and eight women's sports. Men's champions are crowned in football, cross country, basketball, indoor and outdoor track and field, baseball, tennis, and golf. Women's champions are determined in volleyball, cross country, soccer, basketball, indoor and outdoor track and field, softball and tennis.

Ralph McFillen was named to succeed Ken B. Jones as commissioner of the MIAA in January 1997, and took over in July of that year. He formerly served as commissioner of the Metro and Gulf South conferences. Matt Newbery, formerly an assistant sports information director at Pittsburg State University, joined the conference in July 1994 as director of sports information.

MIAA Members

School                            Joined MIAA
Central Missouri State University               1912
Emporia State University                        1991
University of Missouri-Rolla                    1935
Missouri Southern State College                 1989
Missouri Western State College                  1989
Northwest Missouri State University             1912
Pittsburg State University                      1989
Southwest Baptist University                    1986
Truman State University                         1912
Washburn University                             1989
   

MIAA Historical Timeline

1912: Original Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association formed - Cape Girardeau State Teachers, Kirksville State Teachers, Maryville State Teachers, Springfield State Teachers, Warrensburg State Teachers, Central Coll., Central Wesleyan, Culver-Stockton, Drury, Missouri Valley, Missouri Wesleyan, Tarkio, Westminster, and William Jewell.

1924: The MIAA reorganized to include only the five regional state colleges - Central, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest & Southeast. Sports include football basketball & outdoor track and field.

1931: Tennis added as a conference sport.

1932: Indoor track added as an MIAA sport.

1934: Golf added as a conference sport.

1935: Missouri School of Mines (now Missouri-Rolla) joins the MIAA.

1957: MIAA joins the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) College Division.

1958: Cross country added as an MIAA sport.

1963: Southwest Missouri State's men's golf squad wins MIAA's first NCAA College Division championship.

1970: Lincoln University joins the MIAA.

1974: Southwest Missouri State wins the NCAA Division II Men's Cross Country Championship.

1980: University of Missouri-St. Louis joins the MIAA.

1981: Men's soccer added as a conference sport... Ken B. Jones is appointed as MIAA's first full-time commissioner... Southwest Missouri State leaves for NCAA Division I.

1982: The MIAA begins sponsoring championships in women's athletics.

1984: Central Missouri State becomes the first school in NCAA history to have its men's and women's basketball squads earn national championships in the same season... Southeast Missouri State also wins an NCAA Division II National Championship in men's cross country.

1985: Southeast Missouri State claims NCAA Division II Men's Indoor Track National Championship.

1986: Southwest Baptist University joins the MIAA.

1989: Missouri Southern State, Missouri Western State, Pittsburg State and Washburn join MIAA... Men's soccer championship suspended.

1991: Southeast Missouri State leaves for NCAA Division I... Emporia State joins the MIAA... MIAA establishes Sports Information Office... Pittsburg State, in just its third season as an NCAA Division II member, wins the Football National Championship with a 20-6 win over Jacksonville State.

1992: Missouri Southern State's softball squad, also in it's third season in Division II play, defeats California State-Hayward, 1-0, to win the national championship... Conference name changed to Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

1994: Central Missouri State knocks off Florida Southern, 14-9, to capture the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship... Men's soccer championship play resumes... First Ken B. Jones Award for MIAA Student-Athlete of the Year given.

1996: Missouri-St. Louis completes final season before moving to the Great Lakes Valley Conference... Northeast Missouri State changes its name to Truman State University.

1997: Ken B. Jones retires on June 30 after 16 years of service as commissioner to the conference... MIAA chief executive officers select former Metro Conference and Gulf South Conference commissioner Ralph McFillen as his successor... New MIAA office established in Overland Park, Kan.

1998: Northwest Missouri State became the first football team in NCAA Division II history to post a 15-0 record, as the Bearcats won their first national title in any sport with a 24-6 win over Carson-Newman (Tenn.).

1999: Lincoln forfeits membership in the MIAA at the conclusion of the 1998-99 academic year... Men's soccer championship discontinued... Women's soccer added as a championship sport... Northwest Missouri State wins the longest NCAA Championship football game at any level, defending the Division II National Championship with a 58-52, four-overtime win over Carson-Newman (Tenn.) at Florence, Ala.