NAIA Renews Partnership Agreement with the United States Marine Corps
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has renewed a partnership agreement with the United States Marine Corps as an Official Partner of the NAIA.
The renewed agreement reinforces a shared commitment to leadership development, character formation, and service-driven excellence among student-athletes and administrators across the association’s nationwide membership.
"We’re thrilled to partner with the NAIA in supporting the coaches and mentors who shape their athletes’ lives," said Col. Tony Semelroth. "Student-athletes frequently rely on their coaches when facing life-changing decisions. Through this partnership, we’ll help NAIA members better understand the Marine Corps’ approach to discipline, teamwork, and leadership, while also equipping them to introduce the Marine Corps as a rewarding career path for student-athletes seeking a challenge and the chance to serve a purpose greater than themselves.
As part of the partnership, NAIA National Convention attendees will have the opportunity to participate in “Fit to Win” sessions, an interactive series focused on building mental toughness, resilience, and high-performance habits in athletic programs. These sessions are designed to equip coaches and staff with practical strategies rooted in the Marine Corps’ proven leadership framework, emphasizing accountability, adaptability, and teamwork.
NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr added that the renewed partnership aligns with the association’s core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. “Our partnership with the Marine Corps reflects our ongoing commitment to developing champions of character,” Carr said. “By connecting our members with leadership training and service-oriented opportunities, we are expanding the impact of college athletics beyond competition.”
The renewed agreement further strengthens the NAIA’s network of mission-aligned partners dedicated to empowering student-athletes to achieve success in competition, in the classroom, and in life.
The agreement runs through January 2027.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS (NAIA)
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small athletics programs dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics. NAIA members provide more than 87,000 student-athletes with opportunities to play college sports, earn $1.3 billion in financial aid from NAIA institutions, and compete in 29 national championships. naia.org | @NAIA
About The United States Marine Corps
The Marine Corps recognizes the essential work of coaches, educators, mentors, and parents. You inspire the fighting spirit that defines our current Marines and the future leaders. We are eager to connect with you, whether to identify outstanding students and athletes or to have us support your efforts in motivating students toward their full potential. Becoming a Marine is a noble and demanding path, requiring the willingness to engage and the determination to defeat every challenge. In and out of uniform, it’s the fighting spirit found inside every Marine that drives them to victory. To learn more about the United States Marine Corps, click here.
