KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association hosted its 2024 Basketball Media Day presented by Seigfreid Bingham on Tuesday, October 8 at the College Basketball Experience in downtown Kansas City.
 
MIAA head coaches, student-athletes and administrators from all 14 MIAA institutions met in Kansas City for the Association’s annual Basketball Media Day. The event featured an opening statement from MIAA Commissioner Mike Racy and 15-minute Q&A press conferences with MIAA head men’s and women’s coaches and the Media Day Emcee, Brenda VanLengen.
 
MIAA student-athletes in attendance explored the College Basketball Experience, competed in friendly games and a not-so-friendly Pop-A-Shot competition, and enjoyed lunch provided by Johnny’s Tavern – the official sports bar of the MIAA.
 
The 2024 Basketball Media Day was the first for new MIAA head coaches Tom Billeter (Emporia State men), Ashton Feldhaus (Missouri Western women), Marty Levinson (Nebraska Kearney men) and Matt Keeley (Northwest Missouri men).  
 
After spending 21 seasons as the head coach of Augustana University’s men’s program, first-year Hornets head coach Tom Billeter shared how he’s feeling about his new team, new institution and new home. “I feel revitalized... We’re so brand new. Everything we do this season is going to be brand new. It’s exciting and it’s fun." The 26-year head coach also added, “The MIAA for Division II athletics has forever been, in my opinion, the shining star of Division II. Even nationwide, this is a conference that everyone is aware of and knows of, and I’m very honored to be here and be in this league."

From new coaches to old coaches, those from the bottom of the league standings to the top, every head coach shared positive thoughts and expectations for the upcoming MIAA basketball season. 

Pittsburg State women captured the program’s first-ever MIAA tournament title at the 2024 basketball championships. With every starter returning from the 2023-24 lineup, the Gorillas were picked No. 1 in the women’s preseason coaches poll. When head coach Amanda Davied was asked to speak on her initial thoughts on the upcoming season, she explained, “Last year we started the season really well and we finished well. We’re hoping that the things we stubbed our toes on last year will be lessons earned this year. Davied continued, “I think we gained some maturity through those mistakes last year and we’re going to lean on our experienced leaders this season.”
 
Commissioner Racy announced the 2024-25 MIAA basketball preseason polls in his opening press conference. Racy's alma mater Washburn was selected as the league favorites in the men's preseason coaches poll. To view the complete results of the women’s preseason coaches poll and media poll, click here. To view the results of the men’s preseason coaches and media polls, click here.

Many MIAA coaches spoke on more than just their game plans for the upcoming season. Coaches shared their thoughts on the importance of their players' mental health and the impact they can have on their student-athletes' lives.

Newman’s eighth-year head men's coach RJ Allen concluded his media day press conference with a reminder that coaching is more than just x’s and o’s. “When you talk big picture in Division II, the storyline in our program is the individual successes that our kids have and developing young people to be successful citizens in our society,” Allen explained. “As we continue to grow as an athletic department and as a basketball program, the one thing I’m proud of that we’ve been able to do at Newman is helping our young people grow to be successful for the rest of their lives.”
 
MIAA fans and media can rewatch the 2024 Basketball Media Day for free on The MIAA Network.
 
The 2024-25 NCAA Division II basketball seasons officially tip-off the first weekend of November with MIAA contests starting the first week of December. To view the complete schedule for all MIAA women’s basketball programs, click here. To view the complete schedule for all MIAA men’s basketball programs, click here.