Experience

Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association

• United States
• Spectator Sports
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Commissioner

  • Nov 2016 - Present

  Mike Racy is the fifth full-time commissioner in the MIAA's 112 year history.The MIAA is a proud member of the NCAA, with 14 schools in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. The MIAA is the preeminent NCAA Division II athletics conference, whosemembers excel in producing champions – in the classroom, in thecommunity, and in competition.The MIAA creates opportunities for success by challenging student-athletes academically,developing their athletic skills in high-level NCAA Division II competition, andenriching their personal and social well-being.Members of the MIAA share the belief that competitive physical activities, conducted in a wholesome educational environment, have value for individuals, universities and communities. The MIAA helps prepare students, through their athletic experience, to be engaged in their communities and to be leaders in their chosen professions.During his tenure at the MIAA, Racy has created the MIAA Sports Network, a direct-to-consumer integrated digital sports video platform for all MIAA competition. Since creating the Network, media revenue has increased to more than $500,000 for MIAA member schools. In addition, Racy negotiated a 7-year agreement to move the Association headquarters to Historic Hy-Vee Arena in Kansas City, increasing the exposure and promotional opportunities for the Conference. Racy has also doubled the number of MIAA corporate partners, and started a conference-wide risk management initiative. Under Racy’s leadership, MIAA member schools have won 16 NCAA national championships, in 11 different sports, by 8 different institutions.



Strategic Edge Consulting

• United States
• Software Development

• Attorney, Strategist, Higher Education Consultant

  • Sep 2015 - Dec 2016

  Full-service provider of leadership strategies and management solutions for higher education institutions, intercollegiate conferences, and collegiate organizations. National experience, knowledge and leadership in providing all-encompassing services to clients, with analysis and recommendations that assist an institution in its efforts to be more proactive, competitive and efficient. Skills:*Creative entrepreneurial thinker, highly resourceful with exceptional problem-solving skills.*Ability to work under pressure on challenging issues with tight deadlines.*Strong interpersonal and influencing skills; inter-agency diplomacy; nurturing relationships.*National reputation for innovative and creative programming.*Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters.



University of Central Missouri

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Vice President for Law, Policy and Strategy/General Counsel

  • Jun 2013 - Aug 2015

  Leadership for legal, policy and strategy related issues at UCM; Chief counsel to the UCM Board of Governors; President’s representative in a multitude of forums, including community and campus events. Key Accomplishments: •Appointed as UCM's first Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) in 2013.•Restructured UCM legal office to centralize university policy work and initiate a proactive, risk management approach in addressing campus issues. •Strengthened campus relationships with government offices, corporate investors and community partners. Increased funding and assisted UCM Board in approving a freeze in increases to tuition and fees for two consecutive years. •Authored key sections of UCM Self-Study Report for reaccreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) in 2014. •Revised campus Title IX Procedures to fully implement effective sexual harassment policies and provide comprehensive training for students and staff. •Created UCM and Whiteman Air Force Base Servant Leadership Lecture Series (January 2014)---first speaker, General (Ret.) Richard Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2001-2005); (October 2014)---second speaker, Col. Michael S. Hopkins, NASA Astronaut.



NCAA

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Vice President

  • Nov 1993 - Jun 2013

  Chief Executive for the 300 member institutions in NCAA Division II; Leader to more than 40 national office staff members supporting Division II services; Manager of a $30 million annual budget; Member of the NCAA president’s leadership team. Key Accomplishments: •Managed the NCAA Division II budget to 14 consecutive surpluses and end-of-year membership distributions. •Produced four Division II Chancellors and Presidents Summer Strategy Summits—2013, 2010, 2007 and 2005---for more than 500 college and university CEOs. •Increased the number of NCAA national championship participation opportunities for student-athletes by 50%. •Lead academic policy changes that helped increase the Division II student-athlete graduation rate to 8 percentage points higher than the graduation rate for the Division II student body. •Developed the Division II Make-A-Wish® national fundraising partnership that generated more than $3 million in contributions in 8 years. •Negotiated the NCAA's first regular season, national television "Game of the Week" with CBS Sports, for NCAA Division II football and men's/women's basketball (approximately 150 schools in national broadcasts since 2006).•Developed innovative concepts for the governance of the division (e.g., groundbreaking legislative role for Division II student-athletes in 1998). •Created the NCAA's first Diversity Strategic Alliance Matching Grant program (@ 100 new campus jobs created in 15 years) and the Division II Conference Grant program (@ $60 million sent to D2 conference offices since program inception).•18 month appointment in 1995-96 as Special Liaison to the NCAA President’s Commission for Governance Restructuring (Chief Strategist to the NCAA President's Commission, which received overwhelming membership support for the new NCAA Governance Structure during a special vote at the 1996 NCAA Convention).