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Finding Your Place: The NAIA I and II
Overview
The NAIA administers men’s and women’s basketball programs for more than 275 institutions. Like the NCAA, schools are broken into different levels: Division I and II; the major distinction being the amount of scholarships that each division can offer. About two-thirds are classified as Division II. All schools are fully accredited colleges and universities. Many are religious based. The top NAIA programs are generally located in the Midwest. The level of competition in the NAIA is similar to the NCAA Division III.
Generally, a NAIA player is one who may be known locally rather than regionally or nationally, and may be good enough to earn a partial scholarship from a low-tier D1 school or mid-tier D2 school. Generally speaking, NAIA programs offer greater opportunity for players to come in right away and get quality minutes.
Generally speaking, NAIA institutions:
ü Are primarily private and/or religious based
ü Emphasize a liberal arts curriculum
ü Have enrollments under 2,000 students
ü Provide for a greater sense of community/belonging
ü Offer fewer graduate programs
ü Have higher graduation rates for athletes than NCAA D1 or D2
Generally speaking, NAIA basketball programs:
ü Have small recruiting budgets
ü Have less experienced assistant coaches
ü Recruit almost entirely locally or in-state
ü Play in smaller gyms, before smaller crowds
ü Play at a level similar to NCAA Division III
ü Attract a more well-rounded student-athlete
ü Have less rules governing recruiting
ü Offer athletic scholarships
College Characteristics
Institutions belonging to the NAIA do so for a number of reasons. Generally, size and location are the two most important factors. Schools of similar size may be in relative close proximity to one another thereby cutting down on expenses and time spent away from campus for away games – important to smaller schools that have limited budgets or more serious student-athletes. It is also very common for some institutions to join the NAIA because of philosophical or religious similarities. Two-thirds of NAIA institutions are affiliated with a religious denomination. Finally, many schools retain their NAIA affiliation due to a long tradition and established conference rivalries.
NAIA schools are small, averaging less than 2,000 students. Schools with as little 1,000 students are very common and while schools with enrollments greater than 5,000 are rare, they do exist. For example, California State University at Hayward has over 12,000 students. Proponents of NAIA institutions frequently cite their small size as a major draw, pointing out that teacher-to-pupil ratios are much lower, students are often given greater individual attention, and graduation within four years is a near certainty. However, being small can also have its drawbacks. For example, schools located in small towns (not uncommon among NAIA institutions) or which offer limited on-campus activities, could be disappointing to a student-athlete coming from a large high school or city where there is a greater variety of “things to do”. And, depending on the area, the school may not be ethnically diverse. With respect to cost, tuition is often higher for in-state students compared to public institutions. Out-of-state students, however, may find tuition at NAIA schools more comparable. For example, tuition plus room and board at Tennessee Wesleyan is about $15,000, about the same as the University of Tennessee (NCAA D1).
As NAIA schools are smaller, they offer fewer degrees and because the great majority of NAIA schools are liberal arts based, student-athletes interested in specialized majors (e.g., Marine Biology, Astronomy, or Civil Engineering) may have to expand their search to larger NAIA schools. Graduate programs are limited and, when offered, typically include just a few disciplines, usually Business and Education. Most student-athletes should be able to locate an NAIA school with a sufficient number and variety of majors, some with even highly specialized ones. For example, Embry-Riddle in Florida is the largest university in the nation offering aviation (pilot) training.
Recruiting/Scholarships
Recruiting at the NAIA level is not as intense as it is at the NCAA D2 and D3 levels. Most NAIA coaches recruit locally or within state because of limited recruiting budgets. Thus, out-of-state athletes often are evaluated via videotape. It is very common to find NAIA team rosters filled entirely with in-state students. While NAIA schools do not attract many blue chip athletes, the more successful NAIA programs are first rate, and frequently recruit against NCAA D1 institutions. Student-athletes with above average talent who believe they can just walk-on and break into the starting line-up on the more successful NAIA teams are badly mistaken. Nonetheless, if playing time is important to you as a freshman and sophomore, NAIA schools offer greater opportunity than what is normally the case at NCAA D2 and D1.
The primary difference between NAIA Division I and II institutions is in the amount of scholarships that each can give. Division I can give a total of 11 full tuition, room and board scholarships. Division II can give six. The source of scholarship money differs at each school and may be limited by the conferences that they play in or by their own school’s budget. Generally speaking, schools will split their scholarship money and divide it amongst deserving team members. The “full ride”, which is more common among NCAA D1 schools, is the exception at NAIA institutions and then, only reserved for the top student-athlete. Depending on the individual, some programs may only cover an athlete’s room and/or board but not tuition or books or vice-a-versa. Like NCAA schools, NAIA scholarship money is only guaranteed for one year though, in practice, scholarships are often extended for three additional years. Finally, the decision to award athletic scholarships may not be left to the coach; a school’s athletic director frequently plays a large role in who gets what and how much. Like NCAA Division III, NAIA coaches often have to wait for top prospects to choose among the higher levels. Thus, NAIA coaches may not know what they have to work with until late Spring.
As academics are emphasized at NAIA schools, the NAIA rewards institutions for recruiting good students for their athletic programs. Some NAIA schools are state funded and receive much of the same financial aid that NCAA schools receive. It is not unusual for student-athletes at the NAIA Division I level to receive full rides because of the additional amount of money the schools have to offer. For athletes at the NAIA Division II level, it is more common for parents to pick up the uncovered cost of their son’s or daughter’s education through low cost loans such as Stafford or parent PLUS loans. At this level you will also find more student-athletes having to supplement their tuition with a part-time job.
Rules/Eligibility
NAIA coaches have very few limitations compared to their NCAA counterparts, even NCAA Division III. While giving gifts or taking players on recruiting visits is not allowed, coaches are generally free to interact with prospective recruits anytime they want. NAIA coaches may contact high school athletes at any time and are free to observe them play during the year without worrying about violating contact rules. (Rules for contacting college athletes, however, are much more restrictive.) This enables coaches to develop more of a personal relationship with prospects earlier in the recruiting process. Common to both the NCAA and NAIA, there are no restrictions whatsoever for prospective recruits (high school or college) initiating contact with college coaches.
Minimum eligibility rules for NAIA are slightly different than those of the NCAA. A high school recruit must satisfy two of the following three conditions to play at the NAIA level:
1. Achieve either an 18 on the ACT or a 860 on the SAT
2. A minimum 2.0 grade point average
3. Graduate in the upper half of his/her graduating class
While the first two conditions are similar to that of the NCAA Division II, the third is only peculiar to the NAIA. To remain eligible, a student-athlete must take a minimum of 12 units during the term of competition and be making normal progress towards completing their degree over a 10-semester period. The NAIA requires each member institution to certify student-athletes’ grades each semester.
NAIA coaches cannot offer paid visits to a prospective student-athlete unless their institution offers the same for a prospective non-athlete. Medical redshirting rules are more reasonable. A Letter of Intent is not required in the NAIA though some schools/conferences choose to use one.
Coaching Background
Resumes of head coaches at the NAIA level can vary tremendously. Oftentimes it is the purity of the game, small-school environment, or different responsibilities that attract coaches to the NAIA. Some coaches are attracted to NAIA institutions because of the school’s association with a particular religious belief or philosophy. Unlike NCAA D1 or D2 head coaches who are paid to coach full-time, NAIA head coaches, who may earn $10-$30k per year, teach or have other responsibilities (e.g., athletic director, coaching another sport, sports information director, etc.) And, unlike their NCAA D1 and D2 counterparts, NAIA head coaches spend considerable time doing their own recruiting.
Like many NCAA head coaches, the great majority of NAIA head coaches were former high school or college standouts. Unlike NCAA D1 or D2 head coaches who have collegiate head coaching experience, many NAIA head coaches come directly from the high school ranks, similar to D3. High school experience, however, does not suggest that coaches at the NAIA level are less talented or capable. The difference in coaching is more a result of the type of players and degree of competition faced. Successful NAIA head coaches that move up to a higher level are generally just as successful.
Coaching differences at the NAIA level are more apparent at the assistant level where having a full-time assistant coach is the exception rather than the rule. The majority of NAIA assistant coaches are part-time, hold a “real” job on the outside, or volunteer their services. Assistant pay is low which suggests those assisting do it because they love the game. (Dakota State, an NAIA Division II institution, recently advertised for a women’s assistant coach for a nine-month term. The total compensation package, which included room and board, was valued at less than $20,000.)
NCAA D1 or D2 assistant coaches are frequently specialists whereas NAIA assistant coaches tend to be generalists. Many NCAA D1 or D2 assistants have prior collegiate coaching experience. In most cases, an athlete is likely to get better skill (position) instruction at the higher NCAA levels due to the caliber of coaches at the assistant level. However, among the more successful NAIA programs the difference may not be as pronounced.
Schedule/Practices/Games
NAIA programs are highly competitive and there are many schools that can compete with low NCAA D1, mid-tier NCAA D2 programs, or NCAA D3. (It is not uncommon for NAIA teams to schedule NCAA D1 opponents during the preseason, for example, perennial power Westmont College annually schedules U.C. Santa Barbara.) A clear advantage for NAIA schools is the luxury of beginning practice as early as the start of school and weeks before the NCAA schools can begin. They can also have their first scheduled game weeks before NCAA schools. This is huge in player development. The amount of practice time that is expected from an NAIA athlete is probably less than an NCAA D2 athlete but still demanding. Practices are typically 5-6 days a week, 2-3 hours a day. Many programs require strength and conditioning and possibly study hall. As NAIA programs stress academics ahead of athletics, it is not uncommon for coaches to schedule practices around their players’ class schedules or to have players arriving late or leaving early for academic reasons. This could be a real plus for the serious student-athlete.
NAIA schools can schedule 32 contests plus two scrimmages. By comparison, NCAA D3 schools can only schedule 25 games plus two scrimmages. Like NCAA D3, NAIA programs develop strong rivalries within their own conference/region. More often than not, league opponents are located within relative short distances, eliminating overnight stays on most away games. This too can be a huge advantage to the serious student-athlete. Like their NCAA counterparts, pre-season tournaments may take them out-of-state but even then, NAIA schools typically do far less traveling in the pre-season than NCAA D1 or D2. Finally, like NCAA D3 and some D2 schools, many NAIA schools schedule games to permit women and men’s teams to play back-to-back.
Unlike the NCAA which limits foreign trips or tours to one every three or four years, the NAIA has no such limitations and the NAIA does not mandate a set number of institutional contests to be played solely against other NAIA member institutions. Post-season participation is not limited by inflexible qualification ratios and independent NAIA schools are guaranteed an opportunity to qualify for post-season play. Post-season play consists of a National Tournament for both men and women at each division. Conferences with ten or more schools have two bids to the tournament and those with less than ten have one. All bids to the tournament play at one site.
Conclusion
NAIA institutions are often compared to those at the NCAA Division III level in terms of the level of play, however, because NAIA schools offer scholarships, many basketball programs more closely resemble NCAA Division II. Among the more successful NAIA programs, the caliber of play and level of competition can mirror that NCAA D3, mid-tier NCAA D2,or lower-tier NCAA D1 programs. Generally, a NAIA player is one who may be known locally rather than regionally or nationally, and may be good enough to earn a partial scholarship from a low-tier D1 school or mid-tier D2 school. Generally speaking, NAIA programs offer greater opportunity for players to come in right away and get quality minutes.
The overall attraction of NAIA schools, however, is usually not due to its sports programs. Very often, those choosing to attend NAIA schools place as much emphasis, if not more, on the small size, close knit environment, and/or philosophical or religious kinship that many NAIA schools offer. As a result, many coaches promote what the school can offer after basketball.
Contributors to the above article include:
Stephanie Duke, Women’s Head Coach, Notre Dame de Namur University – Belmont, CA
Lisa Liberty Becker, author, Net Prospect: “The Courting Process of Women’s College Basketball Recruiting”, Wish Publishing, 2002
Dennis Jones, Women’s Head Coach, Holy Names College – Oakland, CA
Don Dyer, former Men’s Head Coach at Henderson State and Central Arkansas. NAIA Hall fame Inductee.
FYPNAIA.doc
Overview
The NAIA administers men’s and women’s basketball programs for more than 275 institutions. Like the NCAA, schools are broken into different levels: Division I and II; the major distinction being the amount of scholarships that each division can offer. About two-thirds are classified as Division II. All schools are fully accredited colleges and universities. Many are religious based. The top NAIA programs are generally located in the Midwest. The level of competition in the NAIA is similar to the NCAA Division III.
Generally, a NAIA player is one who may be known locally rather than regionally or nationally, and may be good enough to earn a partial scholarship from a low-tier D1 school or mid-tier D2 school. Generally speaking, NAIA programs offer greater opportunity for players to come in right away and get quality minutes.
Generally speaking, NAIA institutions:
ü Are primarily private and/or religious based
ü Emphasize a liberal arts curriculum
ü Have enrollments under 2,000 students
ü Provide for a greater sense of community/belonging
ü Offer fewer graduate programs
ü Have higher graduation rates for athletes than NCAA D1 or D2
Generally speaking, NAIA basketball programs:
ü Have small recruiting budgets
ü Have less experienced assistant coaches
ü Recruit almost entirely locally or in-state
ü Play in smaller gyms, before smaller crowds
ü Play at a level similar to NCAA Division III
ü Attract a more well-rounded student-athlete
ü Have less rules governing recruiting
ü Offer athletic scholarships
College Characteristics
Institutions belonging to the NAIA do so for a number of reasons. Generally, size and location are the two most important factors. Schools of similar size may be in relative close proximity to one another thereby cutting down on expenses and time spent away from campus for away games – important to smaller schools that have limited budgets or more serious student-athletes. It is also very common for some institutions to join the NAIA because of philosophical or religious similarities. Two-thirds of NAIA institutions are affiliated with a religious denomination. Finally, many schools retain their NAIA affiliation due to a long tradition and established conference rivalries.
NAIA schools are small, averaging less than 2,000 students. Schools with as little 1,000 students are very common and while schools with enrollments greater than 5,000 are rare, they do exist. For example, California State University at Hayward has over 12,000 students. Proponents of NAIA institutions frequently cite their small size as a major draw, pointing out that teacher-to-pupil ratios are much lower, students are often given greater individual attention, and graduation within four years is a near certainty. However, being small can also have its drawbacks. For example, schools located in small towns (not uncommon among NAIA institutions) or which offer limited on-campus activities, could be disappointing to a student-athlete coming from a large high school or city where there is a greater variety of “things to do”. And, depending on the area, the school may not be ethnically diverse. With respect to cost, tuition is often higher for in-state students compared to public institutions. Out-of-state students, however, may find tuition at NAIA schools more comparable. For example, tuition plus room and board at Tennessee Wesleyan is about $15,000, about the same as the University of Tennessee (NCAA D1).
As NAIA schools are smaller, they offer fewer degrees and because the great majority of NAIA schools are liberal arts based, student-athletes interested in specialized majors (e.g., Marine Biology, Astronomy, or Civil Engineering) may have to expand their search to larger NAIA schools. Graduate programs are limited and, when offered, typically include just a few disciplines, usually Business and Education. Most student-athletes should be able to locate an NAIA school with a sufficient number and variety of majors, some with even highly specialized ones. For example, Embry-Riddle in Florida is the largest university in the nation offering aviation (pilot) training.
Recruiting/Scholarships
Recruiting at the NAIA level is not as intense as it is at the NCAA D2 and D3 levels. Most NAIA coaches recruit locally or within state because of limited recruiting budgets. Thus, out-of-state athletes often are evaluated via videotape. It is very common to find NAIA team rosters filled entirely with in-state students. While NAIA schools do not attract many blue chip athletes, the more successful NAIA programs are first rate, and frequently recruit against NCAA D1 institutions. Student-athletes with above average talent who believe they can just walk-on and break into the starting line-up on the more successful NAIA teams are badly mistaken. Nonetheless, if playing time is important to you as a freshman and sophomore, NAIA schools offer greater opportunity than what is normally the case at NCAA D2 and D1.
The primary difference between NAIA Division I and II institutions is in the amount of scholarships that each can give. Division I can give a total of 11 full tuition, room and board scholarships. Division II can give six. The source of scholarship money differs at each school and may be limited by the conferences that they play in or by their own school’s budget. Generally speaking, schools will split their scholarship money and divide it amongst deserving team members. The “full ride”, which is more common among NCAA D1 schools, is the exception at NAIA institutions and then, only reserved for the top student-athlete. Depending on the individual, some programs may only cover an athlete’s room and/or board but not tuition or books or vice-a-versa. Like NCAA schools, NAIA scholarship money is only guaranteed for one year though, in practice, scholarships are often extended for three additional years. Finally, the decision to award athletic scholarships may not be left to the coach; a school’s athletic director frequently plays a large role in who gets what and how much. Like NCAA Division III, NAIA coaches often have to wait for top prospects to choose among the higher levels. Thus, NAIA coaches may not know what they have to work with until late Spring.
As academics are emphasized at NAIA schools, the NAIA rewards institutions for recruiting good students for their athletic programs. Some NAIA schools are state funded and receive much of the same financial aid that NCAA schools receive. It is not unusual for student-athletes at the NAIA Division I level to receive full rides because of the additional amount of money the schools have to offer. For athletes at the NAIA Division II level, it is more common for parents to pick up the uncovered cost of their son’s or daughter’s education through low cost loans such as Stafford or parent PLUS loans. At this level you will also find more student-athletes having to supplement their tuition with a part-time job.
Rules/Eligibility
NAIA coaches have very few limitations compared to their NCAA counterparts, even NCAA Division III. While giving gifts or taking players on recruiting visits is not allowed, coaches are generally free to interact with prospective recruits anytime they want. NAIA coaches may contact high school athletes at any time and are free to observe them play during the year without worrying about violating contact rules. (Rules for contacting college athletes, however, are much more restrictive.) This enables coaches to develop more of a personal relationship with prospects earlier in the recruiting process. Common to both the NCAA and NAIA, there are no restrictions whatsoever for prospective recruits (high school or college) initiating contact with college coaches.
Minimum eligibility rules for NAIA are slightly different than those of the NCAA. A high school recruit must satisfy two of the following three conditions to play at the NAIA level:
1. Achieve either an 18 on the ACT or a 860 on the SAT
2. A minimum 2.0 grade point average
3. Graduate in the upper half of his/her graduating class
While the first two conditions are similar to that of the NCAA Division II, the third is only peculiar to the NAIA. To remain eligible, a student-athlete must take a minimum of 12 units during the term of competition and be making normal progress towards completing their degree over a 10-semester period. The NAIA requires each member institution to certify student-athletes’ grades each semester.
NAIA coaches cannot offer paid visits to a prospective student-athlete unless their institution offers the same for a prospective non-athlete. Medical redshirting rules are more reasonable. A Letter of Intent is not required in the NAIA though some schools/conferences choose to use one.
Coaching Background
Resumes of head coaches at the NAIA level can vary tremendously. Oftentimes it is the purity of the game, small-school environment, or different responsibilities that attract coaches to the NAIA. Some coaches are attracted to NAIA institutions because of the school’s association with a particular religious belief or philosophy. Unlike NCAA D1 or D2 head coaches who are paid to coach full-time, NAIA head coaches, who may earn $10-$30k per year, teach or have other responsibilities (e.g., athletic director, coaching another sport, sports information director, etc.) And, unlike their NCAA D1 and D2 counterparts, NAIA head coaches spend considerable time doing their own recruiting.
Like many NCAA head coaches, the great majority of NAIA head coaches were former high school or college standouts. Unlike NCAA D1 or D2 head coaches who have collegiate head coaching experience, many NAIA head coaches come directly from the high school ranks, similar to D3. High school experience, however, does not suggest that coaches at the NAIA level are less talented or capable. The difference in coaching is more a result of the type of players and degree of competition faced. Successful NAIA head coaches that move up to a higher level are generally just as successful.
Coaching differences at the NAIA level are more apparent at the assistant level where having a full-time assistant coach is the exception rather than the rule. The majority of NAIA assistant coaches are part-time, hold a “real” job on the outside, or volunteer their services. Assistant pay is low which suggests those assisting do it because they love the game. (Dakota State, an NAIA Division II institution, recently advertised for a women’s assistant coach for a nine-month term. The total compensation package, which included room and board, was valued at less than $20,000.)
NCAA D1 or D2 assistant coaches are frequently specialists whereas NAIA assistant coaches tend to be generalists. Many NCAA D1 or D2 assistants have prior collegiate coaching experience. In most cases, an athlete is likely to get better skill (position) instruction at the higher NCAA levels due to the caliber of coaches at the assistant level. However, among the more successful NAIA programs the difference may not be as pronounced.
Schedule/Practices/Games
NAIA programs are highly competitive and there are many schools that can compete with low NCAA D1, mid-tier NCAA D2 programs, or NCAA D3. (It is not uncommon for NAIA teams to schedule NCAA D1 opponents during the preseason, for example, perennial power Westmont College annually schedules U.C. Santa Barbara.) A clear advantage for NAIA schools is the luxury of beginning practice as early as the start of school and weeks before the NCAA schools can begin. They can also have their first scheduled game weeks before NCAA schools. This is huge in player development. The amount of practice time that is expected from an NAIA athlete is probably less than an NCAA D2 athlete but still demanding. Practices are typically 5-6 days a week, 2-3 hours a day. Many programs require strength and conditioning and possibly study hall. As NAIA programs stress academics ahead of athletics, it is not uncommon for coaches to schedule practices around their players’ class schedules or to have players arriving late or leaving early for academic reasons. This could be a real plus for the serious student-athlete.
NAIA schools can schedule 32 contests plus two scrimmages. By comparison, NCAA D3 schools can only schedule 25 games plus two scrimmages. Like NCAA D3, NAIA programs develop strong rivalries within their own conference/region. More often than not, league opponents are located within relative short distances, eliminating overnight stays on most away games. This too can be a huge advantage to the serious student-athlete. Like their NCAA counterparts, pre-season tournaments may take them out-of-state but even then, NAIA schools typically do far less traveling in the pre-season than NCAA D1 or D2. Finally, like NCAA D3 and some D2 schools, many NAIA schools schedule games to permit women and men’s teams to play back-to-back.
Unlike the NCAA which limits foreign trips or tours to one every three or four years, the NAIA has no such limitations and the NAIA does not mandate a set number of institutional contests to be played solely against other NAIA member institutions. Post-season participation is not limited by inflexible qualification ratios and independent NAIA schools are guaranteed an opportunity to qualify for post-season play. Post-season play consists of a National Tournament for both men and women at each division. Conferences with ten or more schools have two bids to the tournament and those with less than ten have one. All bids to the tournament play at one site.
Conclusion
NAIA institutions are often compared to those at the NCAA Division III level in terms of the level of play, however, because NAIA schools offer scholarships, many basketball programs more closely resemble NCAA Division II. Among the more successful NAIA programs, the caliber of play and level of competition can mirror that NCAA D3, mid-tier NCAA D2,or lower-tier NCAA D1 programs. Generally, a NAIA player is one who may be known locally rather than regionally or nationally, and may be good enough to earn a partial scholarship from a low-tier D1 school or mid-tier D2 school. Generally speaking, NAIA programs offer greater opportunity for players to come in right away and get quality minutes.
The overall attraction of NAIA schools, however, is usually not due to its sports programs. Very often, those choosing to attend NAIA schools place as much emphasis, if not more, on the small size, close knit environment, and/or philosophical or religious kinship that many NAIA schools offer. As a result, many coaches promote what the school can offer after basketball.
Contributors to the above article include:
Stephanie Duke, Women’s Head Coach, Notre Dame de Namur University – Belmont, CA
Lisa Liberty Becker, author, Net Prospect: “The Courting Process of Women’s College Basketball Recruiting”, Wish Publishing, 2002
Dennis Jones, Women’s Head Coach, Holy Names College – Oakland, CA
Don Dyer, former Men’s Head Coach at Henderson State and Central Arkansas. NAIA Hall fame Inductee.
FYPNAIA.doc
