SIOUX CITY — The first year the NAIA Women's Basketball Championship Tournament was played in Sioux City, Mike Skaggs admits he was skeptical about the quality of play and skipped it.
After being recruited to volunteer the following year, he witnessed the high-caliber competition and has been involved ever since.
When the tournament tips off Thursday at the Tyson Events Center for its 27th year in Sioux City, Skaggs will be taking in all the action.
"I'm a sports nut, so I love the basketball. It's a great opportunity to meet the coaches and spend some time with some quality athletes," said Skaggs, the tournament co-director with Corey Westra since 2007.
Mike Skaggs, co-director of the NAIA Women's National Basketball Championships, is shown at the Tyson Events Center. He's been involved with t…
In the early years of the tournament's Sioux City run, Skaggs did whatever was needed after being recruited to work in the volunteer dining area in the depths of the old Sioux City Auditorium.
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"I got talked into it. They were short of volunteers and asked me to cover a couple shifts," Skaggs said.
It progressed from there. He eventually was asked to serve on the tournament's local planning committee and, along with Westra, became familiar with all the ins and outs of putting on the tournament.
"It reached the point where Corey and I knew what all needed to be done from beginning to end and they appointed us directors," Skaggs said.
The two work year-round planning the tournament with a crew of approximately 50 volunteers.
Among his many duties, Skaggs arranges for hotels and transportation for teams in Sioux City and pairs them with a local sponsor whose main role is to make sure the coaches and athletes have a good time while they're here.
"I want to give people a great experience," Skaggs said. "That's the most important part to me, the most special thing."
It's a lot of work, but worth it. Skaggs has made friends with coaches from across the country, many who are here with their teams nearly every year.
"I'm still in contact with coaches I met 20 years ago," he said. "Corey and I always say every year, it's a family reunion."
The Journal spoke with Skaggs about the tournament's annual run in Sioux City.
Can you envision the tournament being anywhere else besides Sioux City?
"I cannot, and Corey and I have this discussion all the time. If it were to go to another city like Omaha or Indianapolis, a larger city, it would get lost in what all it has to offer. We find it real hard for it to go anywhere else, but we don't want to rest on our laurels. Every year, we're looking for ways to make it better."
What's you favorite thing about the tournament?
"The Special Olympics clinic we put on is the best thing we do."
Skaggs said he loves to watch the interaction between the basketball players and the Special Olympians and the joy they share.
"I tell people, if you want to see the coolest thing we do, come to the Special Olympics clinic."
When does planning start for each year's tournament?
"Corey and I go pretty much year-round, but the local committee, we start meeting in January."
Why should people come watch a few tournament games?
"The caliber of basketball is really good. Everybody knows the NCAA and (Iowa star) Caitlin Clark ... but NAIA is really good basketball. There is somebody in NAIA (Grace Beyer of the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis) who has scored more points than Caitlin Clark. Just come down, watch some great basketball and support the event."
With all the responsibilities you have as tournament co-director keeping you busy, how much action do you get to watch?
"I see every game from tip to finish. Once the tournament starts, our work's done and it's just sit back, make sure everything's running smoothly and enjoy some great basketball."