Kansas City, Mo.- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is proud to announce a contract extension with Daktronics through the 2012-13 sports season. Daktronics is a company based out of Brookings, S.D., that owns DakStats, the official statistical software of the NAIA since 2001. This extension will be in effect for the 2010-11 season and is separate from the marketing contract.

DakStats is the premiere software for managing game, season and career statistics. DakStats software is used at all levels of play, from high school to professional, for tracking live game stats and compiling in-depth statistical reports. The statistical data on the NAIA national statistical leader-board is updated by member schools on a daily basis. The leader-board provides statistics for eight championship sports.

The purpose of partnering with Daktronics and housing a national statistical database is to provide the media and public with the most accurate and timely informational piece and most cost-effective way to publicize the NAIA on a national scale. The NAIA is committed to its member institutions and providing the most dependable and economically efficient method of national statistical keeping.

"On behalf of the NAIA, I am pleased to extend our partnership with Daktronics," said NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr. "The services provided by Daktronics have garnered  tremendous national exposure for our membership since 2001. With this extension, we look forward to building on the publicity we have gained from the relationship."

A few of the features in the future contract include, but are not limited to:

The national office will handle all billing for the DakStats software fees. This invoice will be sent to all Athletic Directors and Sports Information Directors in September.

Additional resources will be available for institutions to be educated on the software. For example, webinars and conference calls will be conducted for various institutions.

Ability of institutions and conferences to use the live stats Web-sync feature.

The added feature of an institution to use the "single-game sync" which officially reports statistics to the national office for both institutions.

Emergency Help Desk will continue to be available during high-traffic times such as weekends and nights.

Addition of "superlative" statistics on the national leader-board for various sports.

Development of improved monitoring reports on schools missing stats - provide dates and contests that are missing in addition to trend reports.

Daktronics offers a valuable product that no other company provides, in terms of the national statistical leader-board.

"Our ongoing relationship with the NAIA has allowed us to continually evolve our centralized stats platform and create a very unique and powerful solution for association stats," said Jon Grann, Daktronics Software Manager. "With this extension, we look forward to making the information even more accessible for NAIA Sports Information Directors, fans and athletes."

In addition to up-to-date software for each sport, NAIA institutions receive full technical support, the ability to convert various statistical files, plus Web-cast and Web-sync modules. Daktronics has been a valued NAIA partner for nine years and continues to develop streamlined approaches - custom-made for NAIA members - to gain media exposure and showcase outstanding student-athletes.

"The NAIA Sports Information Directors appreciate the time and effort Daktronics, especially the DakStats department, has put into maintaining and enhancing our national statistical website," said Sam Ghrist, NAIA-SIDA President. "There is no doubt that a continuing relationship with the NAIA will only aid in our day-to-day efforts in athletic communication.  We look forward in continuing to work with Daktronics over the next three years."

In the terms of the agreement, member schools will continue to pay the same sport Web-sync fee as recent years for each software sport package. This fee is a 50% discount to NAIA members only. This feeis for every institution to have the opportunity for all of their stats to be listed on the national statistical leader-board. This fee is not for the ability to use the in-game DakStats software.

NAIA
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is the governing body for athletics programs at its nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. The long-held mission of the NAIA is to promote the education and development of well-rounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics. The association offers equitable access and opportunities for participation in its 23 national championship events held annually throughout the country.

Today, the NAIA strengthens its commitment to student-athletes and strives to enrich their college experience by supporting academic achievement and character development. NAIA Champions of Character is the association's innovative flagship program designed to instill character values in student-athletes, coaches and youth in the communities it serves. To learn more visit www.NAIA.org.