OLATHE, Kan. - The National Association of Intercollegiate of Athletics (NAIA) Council of Presidents today named Jim Carr the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association. Carr becomes the seventh executive officer for the NAIA dating back to 1937, and served as Interim President and CEO during the eight month search by the Council of Presidents under the direction of Chair Dr. Loren Gresham.

"Jim Carr brings a knowledge and depth of understanding of the NAIA to his work as president and CEO," said Gresham. "He has been intimately involved with day to day operations over the last eight years as well as providing direction to the strategic planning process for the future." 

Carr will oversee all business operations of the Association of colleges and universities spread across the United States and parts of Canada. Over the past several months the Association, under the direction of Carr, has taken an inside look at the state of the NAIA and areas pertaining to the business model that will have a vast impact on the image, perception and position of the Association with regard to servicing members and student-athletes. The NAIA's Champions of Character program, now in its sixth year, is a vehicle for social change and a banner symbol for the NAIA. The NAIA believes in the values of Champions of Character and challenges student-athletes and coaches to strive for a standard higher than victory.

"His unanimous selection by the Council of Presidents is an indication of their confidence in his ability to lead the organization in the years immediately ahead," said Gresham. "His ability to connect with college presidents, athletic administrators and student-athletes makes him the ideal person to fill this key leadership role."

The NAIA is a team of more than 50,000 student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty members and presidents whose mission is to develop students of character through intercollegiate athletic participation. The NAIA's commitment to provide quality service to members while serving the thousands of young men and women who play for the love of the game is unmatched and dedicated to carry on the rich tradition of the NAIA. 

"I feel honored and privileged to be the new president and CEO of the NAIA. During my time on the NAIA staff, I have had the good fortune of working with numerous college presidents, athletic directors, coaches and faculty members who are passionate about the value of intercollegiate athletics, in particular, the philosophy of the NAIA," said Carr. "I look forward to continuing to work with our members to build an organization dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics."  

Carr joined the NAIA in July 1998 as Managing Director and General Counsel. In 2000, he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer while retaining the title of General Counsel. Before joining the NAIA, Carr practiced law with the full service law firm of Maynard, Cooper and Gale, P.C. in Birmingham, Alabama from 1994 to 1998. He also worked in the athletic development office at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) from 1989 to 1991. As Director of Licensing at UNLV, Carr strengthened policing and marketing efforts which contributed to a 300% increase in royalty revenue for the 1990 and 1991 academic year. 

Carr, who was a starter for the Millsaps College Majors for three years and currently holds the men's single season highs for three-point field goals made, three-point field goal percentage and three-pointers attempted, obtained a B.B.A. in business administration in 1988.

He went on to obtain a M.S. in sports management from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1990 and a J.D. from Duke University in 1994.  An active member of the community, Carr serves on various boards and councils including USA Basketball, the Police Athletic League of Kansas City and the Downtown Council of Kansas City. 

Carr succeeds Steve Baker, who announced his resignation in February and whose eight-year tenure cultivated new marketing partnerships and sharpened the Associations' focus on core services with special emphasis on long-term student development.