Kansas City, Mo. - The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association hosted its 2023 Basketball Media Day presented by Seigfreid Bingham Oct. 10 at the College Basketball Experience in the heart of Downtown Kansas City.

Athletes and coaches from 14 member institutions gathered on the carpet-covered court to speak to the media about the impending 2023-24 basketball season. MIAA Commissioner Mike Racy opened the event with an address to the conference’s teams and sponsors, thanking them for their support and attendance.

Basketball supervisors Greg Small and Eddie Jackson preceded the coaches section by introducing rule changes for the upcoming season. 

Approved alterations specify the elimination of the four-foot line and lower defensive box in women’s contests. Now, players are allowed to take a charge as long as they are not directly underneath the basket. On the men’s side, 11 rule changes were mentioned by Jackson, but only one was specifically expanded upon. The rule regarding the legal guarding position of an airborne shooter now states that a secondary defender must have two feet on the floor, facing the offensive player prior to the latter of the two planting their launch foot on the floor.

“This rule is a safety rule,” Jackson said. “We were seeing way too many crashes near the basket,” Jackson said. “This rule, as I said, is a safety rule – number one. Number two, we were trying to do something to try to improve scoring in men’s college basketball.”

Racy then refocused the event’s attention to individual teams. With the release of preseason polls, for men and women, teams are aware of where they’re expected to finish. Both preseason lists are located at the end of this story.

For the upcoming season, one men’s program and six women’s programs will start with a new leader. Of those programs under new management, one coach is transitioning from another MIAA member school and another advanced through the ranks.
 

New head coaches for 2023-24 season:

Adam Bohac – Central Missouri Men’s (Formerly at Southern Nazarene)

Brian Ostermann – Emporia State Women’s (Formerly at Kansas State)

Heather Davis – Rogers State Women’s (Formerly at Southwestern Oklahoma State)

Drew Johnson – Nebraska Kearney Women’s (Formerly at Newman)

Keith Ferguson – Northeastern State Women’s (Formerly Bethany College (KS))

Amy Briggs – Newman Women’s (Formerly Truman State)

Talia Kahrs – Fort Hays State Women’s (Promoted from assistant coach)

 

“We’re just looking forward to being competitive,” Newman women’s head coach Amy Briggs said. “I was fortunate to play against some of the MIAA schools throughout the years, so I’ve grown familiar with the conference. I’m learning from the best conference to see how they play and the tempo they play at.”

Although this will be his first season coaching in the MIAA, Central Missouri men’s head coach Adam Bohac is no stranger to the league. Last season, his Southern Nazarene team defeated Northwest Missouri in the central region semifinal game. However, he said the conference has a “tremendous reputation” when asked about the shift in his coaching scenery.

 

The 2023-24 basketball season begins Nov. 10 for non-conference matchups while conference play in the MIAA starts Nov. 30. 

The 2023 MIAA Basketball Media Day was broadcasted live on The MIAA Network. Fans can access the archived broadcast for free at theMIAAnetwork.com.

To see the full schedule and matchups of women's MIAA teams, click here. To see the full schedule and matchups of men's MIAA teams, click here. Stay connected with MIAA news and updates by following @theMIAA on Twitter and by visiting theMIAA.com.

 

2023-24 MIAA Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Central Missouri [11] – 167 points

2. Missouri Western [3] – 153 points

3. Pittsburg State – 147 points

4. Fort Hays State – 131 points 

5. Missouri Southern – 116 points

6. Nebraska Kearney – 111 points

7. Northwest Missouri – 100 points 

8. Washburn – 76 points

T9. Central Oklahoma – 72 points

T9. Emporia State – 72 points

11. Northeastern State – 45 points

12. Lincoln – 41 points

13. Rogers State – 25 points

14. Newman – 18 points

 

2023-24 MIAA Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Northwest Missouri [11] – 166 points

2. Emporia State [1] – 151 points

3. Fort Hays State [1] – 147 points

4. Central Oklahoma [1] – 138 points

5. Missouri Southern – 120 points

6. Washburn – 106 points

7. Missouri Western – 92 points

8. Rogers State – 88 points

9. Northeastern State – 60 points

10. Central Missouri – 59 points

11. Pittsburg State – 55 points

12. Lincoln – 46 points

13. Newman – 24 points

14. Nebraska Kearney – 22 points