Fly ty and Jacinda have hosted the Charlotte Hornets basketball games for 6 seasons now, and this was the 5th year hosting the CIAA tournament. you can hear them both on V101.9 every Sunday morning on the Fly ty and Jacinda show. They both had opportunities to host the NBA All-star weekend. The ACC tournament, and several events for the city of Charlotte. You can call them the host and hostess with the most.
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) was founded and incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1912 as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization as the Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association; adopting its current name in December 1950. The conference is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and is governed by a Board of thirteen (13) Presidents and Chancellors representing institutions from Pennsylvania to South Carolina; comprised of both private and public colleges and universities with enrollments ranging from 750 to over 8,000 students.
The CIAA is one of America’s oldest athletic conferences; producing championships annually in the following sports: Men’s and Women’s Cross Country; Volleyball; Football; Men’s and Women’s Indoor and Outdoor Track; Men’s and Women’s Basketball; Women’s Bowling; Women’s Tennis; Golf; and Softball.
Of the 14 championships produced by the CIAA, its annual basketball tournament has evolved from a 2,000 seat sell out in Washington, D.C. during the inaugural tournament, into one of the nation’s premier sporting events attracting over 190,000 fans during the course of the week, and now touted as the third highest attended basketball tournament among all NCAA divisions.
The CIAA tournament is the quintessential cultural experience offering official events appealing to a diverse demographic of alumni and fans, to include educational programming, community engagement, Fan Fest, Super Saturday, step-shows, concerts, and most importantly, 22 action-packed basketball games. It’s also one of few basketball tournaments in the nation that features men and women competitions in the same facility, during the same week.
Over the past 10 years, the CIAA has generated over $325 million in economic impact for the “Queen City”, Charlotte, N.C., while annually generating over $55 million for the host city. With the support of the City of Charlotte and CIAA corporate partners such as Coca-Cola USA, Nationwide, Food Lion, Toyota and Russell Athletic, the conference has secured over $20 million in scholarship dollars for its member institutions over the past 13 years, averaging $1.5 million annually.
Academic success is a staple of the conference. The CIAA recognizes the academic achievements of its student-athletes annually by naming its top student-athletes to the Commissioner’s All-Academic Team. The conference also recognizes the Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year for student-athletes who have excelled on the field and in the classroom.
A brand synonymous to none, the CIAA is a crown jewel within college sports. Its annual tournament drives the distinct familiarity of the conference, generating national exposure with media and major corporations who acknowledge the athletic association’s exceptional value. Powered by vision and innovation, the CIAA continues to pursue brand prominence in all avenues that will strengthen the foundation of this historic conference.
CIAA Mission Statement and Strategic Vision
The mission of the CIAA is to demand and support the highest standards of integrity and achievement among our member institutions, their athletic programs and the individual student-athlete; demonstrating a commitment to education, community and competitive sportsmanship that honors both our tradition and our future as the nation's first historically black collegiate athletic conference and most recognized conference in Division II.
TRADITION
The CIAA will continue to light the way forward for its member institutions and all Division II colleges and universities through a tradition of athletic excellence, educational opportunity and community involvement; focused always on the personal growth and development of the student-athlete. The CIAA will assist members in maintaining the integrity of their athletics programs through the knowledge and enforcement of NCAA policies and conference regulations as an integral part of each institution's efforts to provide sound educational and athletic opportunities for men and women.
LEADERSHIP
The CIAA encourages the ongoing development of supportive but challenging academic environments and an atmosphere of respectful competition, and the unwavering belief that the welfare of the student-athlete is most important. The CIAA recognizes full participation by all eligible institutions and student-athletes in conference championship programs. The CIAA proudly promotes and fosters a commitment to fair play, ethical conduct, sportsmanship, rivalry and tradition.
COMMUNITY
The CIAA will continue to seek and develop ways to increase exposure for member institutions through sponsorships, partnerships and innovative media programs. The CIAA will energize and encourage students, alumni, faculty, staff and the public at-large to support a conference that has a proud and long-standing tradition of excellence and an exciting future ahead.
