Heart for hoops: Love for the game helps Fishers resident plan NCAA basketball tournaments

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Fishers resident and NCAA director of championships and alliance Tina Krah shows off a replica of the trophy that will be given to this year’s Women’s Final Four champion in Indianapolis. (Photo by Sam Elliott)
Fishers resident and NCAA director of championships and alliance Tina Krah shows off a replica of the trophy that will be given to this year’s Women’s Final Four champion in Indianapolis. (Photo by Sam Elliott)

By Renee Larr

Ever wonder what it takes to put on a large-scale event like the NCAA Women’s Final Four?

Traits like organization, attention to detail and hard work all play a role, but a love of the game doesn’t hurt either.

Tina Krah, a long-time Fishers resident, takes her passion for women’s basketball very seriously as the director of championships and alliances at the NCAA headquarters.

“I moved to Indianapolis in 2001. I got a job pretty quickly here at the NCAA. In 2009, I had the opportunity to be a director. It’s kind been my dream job,” Krah said. “I love it. It entails a lot of things, but the primary focus is the operations and the selections of the teams for the Division I women’s basketball championship and the selection of the officials for that, as well.”

Krah grew up with seven brothers and sisters and was exposed to the game at a young age. She instantly fell in love. She was a member of the Immaculata University national championship basketball team in 1974. The team’s road to a title became the inspiration for the movie “Mighty Macs.”

“In 2014, our team got inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, which is almost unheard of. It was an incredible honor,” Krah said. “Receiving the award has kept me at a high level. Being at the NCAA national office is the epitome of the best championship you can run at the highest level for college players.”

At the end of the women’s tournament each year, Krah and her team take a few days off and then go right into planning for the next year. The Women’s Final Four is in a different city each year, but it happens to be in Indianapolis this year.

“Each year you’re in a different city so we try and integrate what is there. We try to bring in the culture,” Krah said. “What we call our ‘salute’ is a banquet for our student athletes. This year they’re going out to the speedway and having their salute at the pagoda. We’re not only trying to showcase the athletes, but showcasing the city we’re in. We’re trying to do a lot to showcase Indy this year.”

Krah is in charge of selecting the officials for each game played during the tournament. During those few weeks, she watches every game to determine if rules are being followed by the officials.

“We set up a room in the office with an entire wall that is broken up into TVs and we have every game that is going on at the same time,” Krah said. “I’ll be sitting with our national coordinator evaluating the officials to decide which officials advance to the regional round. Then we sit here and do it again for regionals to see who goes to the final four. It’s never ending. If you don’t love it, it would be somewhat tedious, but I love it.”

Krah’s supervisor, Anucha Browne, vice president of Women’s Basketball Championships, describes Krah as a great team player with the organization.

“She has coaching experience, so she’s a great influence relative to discussions about the game. She brings a great historical perspective to the team,” Browne said. “She was also a player, but she’s also been engaged in the game her entire career. She can speak very eloquently to the growth of the game, the transition and changes in the game and also the importance of always remembering and acknowledging the struggle it took to get this game where it is today and those who were engaged in that struggle. She’s really valuable to have from that standpoint.”

After beginning with first-round games across the country March 18, this year’s tournament concludes with national semifinals April 3 and the national championship game April 5 at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse.

For more information on the Women’s Final Four and the collection of events around Indianapolis in coordination with the tournament, visit NCAA.com/womens-final-four.

Meet Tina Krah

Favorite thing about Fishers: I love being close to the lake and having some awesome neighbors.

Favorite Fishers restaurant: I really enjoy Detour and Eddy’s.

Quote to live by: Concentrate on what you can control, and you are in control of your own happiness.

Favorite basketball memory: Winning the first Pennsylvania girls basketball state championship, playing with my sister and having our dad coach us.

Dream vacation: Anywhere there is warm weather, water and a beach.


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