Jim Johnson, Commissioner -- jjohnson@themiaa.com

Jim Johnson became the third full-time commissioner in MIAA history when he succeeded Ralph McFillen on July 1, 2007.

He has been involved with NCAA Division II governance as a member of the Membership Committee (serving as chair from 2006-08). He also served terms on the Division II Community Advisory Group, Division II Management Council, along with project teams for championships eligibility and issues related to diversity.

Johnson also is an active member of the Division II Collegiate Commissioners Association.

Johnson was the director of athletics at Texas A&M-Commerce from 2005-07. In his short time at the NCAA Division II school, which competes in the Lone Star Conference, Johnson spearheaded renovations to the football stadium, a new radio network, and a revamped web site for Lions athletics.

He was active in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) while at Commerce, and was a college division representative.

Johnson spent nearly two years (2003-05) at what is now the University of Central Missouri as associate athletics director for development. While at UCM, he also was the institution's government relations director.

Johnson also has experience in the NCAA national office. He was in membership services from 1997-02, working as membership coordinator and Division II governance liaison. During this time, Johnson provided staff liaison support to the Division II Legislation Committee, Membership Committee, Management Council and Presidents Council.

He left the NCAA in 2002 to take a position as an intercollegiate athletics consultant with the law firm of Hall, Render, Killian, Heath and Lyman, PSC. As a consultant, he worked with many NCAA member institutions, as well as the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioner's Association and several Division II conferences.

A graduate of Tarleton (Texas) State University with a bachelor of business administration degree in 1988 and a master of education degree in 1991, Johnson's career in collegiate athletics began at the school in 1990.

He held a variety of positions in his seven years at TSU, including stints as assistant to the AD, men's athletics coordinator, and as head coach for both men's golf and women's volleyball. He was Tarleton's NCAA compliance coordinator from 1993-97, and actively involved in the school's move to NCAA Division II membership from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in 1994.

Jim and his wife, Cindy (a former athletics administrator and cross country student-athlete at UCM), have two sons -- Ely (9) and Riley (6).

Natasha Oakes became the MIAA's first assistant commissioner on August 11, 2008, and she is in her fourth year as a full-time staff member with the conference after beginning with a one-year internship in 2004.

She is responsible for assisting with budgeting and financial operations of the conference and has a lead administrative role in selected conference championship events.

Oakes also coordinates rules compliance and rules education within the MIAA, and facilitates the National Letter of Intent program. She also serves as liaison for the MIAA's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Faculty Athletics Representative Committee.

While working with the MIAA, Oakes has completed two NCAA enhancement programs -- the Division II Strategic Alliance Matching Grant Program and the Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males and Females. She also is a member of the NCAA Division II Committee for Legislative Rellief.

A May 2004 graduate of Emporia State University with a bachelor of science degree in business administration, Oakes helped ESU athletics in event marketing and fund-raising, and assisted in administrative duties within the track program.

As a member of the ESU SAAC, Oakes served as the advertising chairperson in 2003, during which time she developed and distributed an athletics department newsletter. She also assisted in the promotion of ESU's efforts to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day and coordinated National STUDENT-Athlete Day from 2002 to 2004.

Oakes was a national qualifier for the 2004 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the long jump and as a member of the 400-meter and 1600-meter relay teams. She placed ninth in the long jump at the national meet.

A native of Topeka, Kan., Oakes graduated from Highland Park High School in 1999 -- where she competed in track and field, volleyball and basketball.

Larry House joined the MIAA staff in the summer of 2007 to assist in the marketing of the conference and its events, as well aid in the league's external affairs.

He brings 15 years of sales and marketing experience to his position. House has served as a consultant to several sports-related organizations in the areas of marketing and event management.

Currently, House is the Executive Director of the Greater Kansas City Basketball Coaches Association. He helps the organization conduct coaching clinics throughout the area, as well as its annual All-Star Game.

He is a former high school teacher and coach, working in both the Joplin (Mo.) and North Kansas City (Mo.) school districts.
House earned his bachelor of science in education and master of science in sports business administration at the University of Central Missouri.

Larry and his wife, Anne, live in Lee's Summit, Mo.