The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) has announced a five-year partnership with Teamworks to implement Compliance + Recruiting across all 14 member institutions. This partnership positions the MIAA as a leader within Division II athletics, demonstrating its commitment to embracing innovation and enhancing operations across the conference.
Enhancing Efficiency and Collaboration
For the MIAA, technology is a catalyst for streamlining operations, increasing efficiency, and maximizing collaboration across departments. Prior to the conference-wide deal, several member institutions were already leveraging Teamworks Compliance + Recruiting to support their compliance efforts.
Mike Racy, the MIAA Commissioner for the last 8 years, emphasized the motivation behind this partnership: “We wanted to continue to enhance our operations, to continue to get better, to continue to be more efficient with the things that we’re doing, and with Teamworks we can accomplish all of those goals at once.”
Anthony Rittof, Director of Membership Services at MIAA, highlighted the impact on compliance administrators: “Having a best-in-class product that centralizes and standardizes everything for our compliance teams is crucial. This one-stop-shop, where all resources are housed under one roof, will streamline tasks and significantly enhance efficiency across our conference.”
At the AD level, this conference-wide partnership opens up even more opportunities for senior leadership to support their staff and overall effectiveness in what they do, “the MIAA ADs continue to look for ways that technology can enhance our campus operations and streamline administrative duties. Teamworks offers excellent solutions, and this partnership makes these services even more affordable for all MIAA members,” says Athletic Director, Stan Wagnon at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Leading in Technology Adoption
The MIAA has a history of being at the forefront of technology adoption in Division II athletics. Commissioner Racy stated, “Technology is becoming more and more important in everything that we do in the MIAA. We’ve really been a leader within Division II as it relates to streaming our MIAA contests and games.”
This partnership with Teamworks is seen as another step in that direction. “We see this Teamworks partnership as another advancement of technology for the MIAA as a conference,” Racy added.
Dixie Balman, the Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance and Senior Woman Administrator at Fort Hays State University, stated, “I am excited to see this partnership with Teamworks and the MIAA. Compliance + Recruiting has provided efficiencies and additional institutional control of our Compliance program while streamlining processes and managing our recruiting, CARA and roster management much more effectively. Compliance + Recruiting is a solution that can fit the needs of any athletic department and provide solutions to many of our MIAA institutions’ needs.”
Investment in People
The MIAA views this partnership as more than just a technology upgrade. It represents a significant investment in the conference’s most valuable asset: its people. By providing advanced tools and streamlined processes, the MIAA aims to empower its administrators, coaches, and staff to perform their roles more effectively.
Commissioner Racy explained this philosophy, stating, “An investment in technology is an investment in your people. It’ll make the lives of our compliance administrators, our coaches, and other administrators easier, and operations will be more efficient than what we’ve had in the past.” Racy’s perspective highlights the human-centric approach to technology adoption, focusing on how these tools can support and enhance the work of individuals across the conference.
Looking to the Future
Both MIAA leaders expressed excitement about the potential for expanded collaboration with Teamworks. Racy noted, “We’re happy and excited that we’re one of the first conferences to have a conference-wide partnership on the compliance and recruiting front. But the way I look at it, our partnership’s just beginning, and we’re excited what the future holds for some of the other things that Teamworks can do for our member schools.”
Rittof concluded, “The MIAA prides itself on being an innovator and leader within Division II. This partnership with Teamworks exemplifies our commitment to seeking out and implementing new initiatives that benefit our student-athletes, teams, administrators, and schools.”
This partnership between MIAA and Teamworks represents a significant step forward in leveraging technology to enhance athletic administration in NCAA Division II, setting a new standard for conference-wide collaboration and efficiency.
Learn more about Teamworks Compliance + Recruiting
