Cleveland, Ohio -- The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced it has formed a partnership with the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA).

"MOAA, being a relatively new organization, has strived to be the voice for minority administrators," says Clint Bryant, MOAA chair and director of athletics at Augusta State University. "This Association not only includes minorities and women, but also other under-represented groups. The MOAA is very appreciative to NACDA Executive Director Mike Cleary and the NACDA staff for making it possible for us to be included within the NACDA organization."

The partnership between NACDA and the MOAA will create more opportunities for minorities in athletics administration.

"NACDA is pleased to add the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association to our Intercollegiate Umbrella of Associations," says NACDA President Lee McElroy, director of athletics at the University at Albany. "The addition of the MOAA reiterates the basic component of NACDA's Mission Statement by providing educational opportunities and serving as a vehicle for networking, the exchange of information and advocacy on behalf of the profession."

The MOAA, which was formed in 2000, will hold an annual convention, develop a resource center that identifies programs and supports diversity, conduct research as a way to find solutions to athletics problems and provide postgraduate scholarships for ethnic minority college graduates who will pursue a graduate degree in athletics administration. Other initiatives include providing internships, community-service programs and an electronic employment bank for ethnic minorities seeking careers in athletics. It will also create and maintain a minority vendors program to assist individuals who provide, manufacture or distribute athletics-related products, goods and services.

The Association's Board of Directors includes Bryant; Stanley Johnson, MOAA executive director; Dan Boggan, director of business development at Siebert, Brandford, Shank & Col, treasurer; Charles Whitcomb, vice provost for academic personnel and administration at San Jose State University, secretary; Lori Ebihara, assistant commissioner at the Big Twelve Conference; Sean Frazier, director of athletics at Merrimack College; Alfreeda Goff, associate commissioner of the Horizon League; Dan Guerrero, director of athletics at UCLA; Muzzy Jackson, assistant general manager of the Kansas City Royals; Leon Kerry, commissioner of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic association; and Stan Wilcox, deputy director of athletics at the University of Notre Dame.

"NACDA is proud to partner with the MOAA," says NACDA Executive Director Mike Cleary. "This partnership complements NACDA's diversity initiatives, which includes administration of the John McLendon Memorial Minority Postgraduate Scholarship program."

Services provided by NACDA are membership functions including member solicitation and dues payments, meeting planning and general administrative duties.

NACDA, now in its 42nd year, is the professional and educational association for more than 6,100 college athletics administrators at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 2,000 athletics administrators annually attend the NACDA Convention. Additionally, NACDA administers nine professional associations for the separate business units that report directly to the athletics director.