St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Commissioner Dr. Richard Kaiser has announced that he will retire at the end of the 2024-25 academic year. Kaiser is currently in his seventh year with the conference, tied for the longest commissioner tenure in conference history. With his retirement it brings to close a career that has spanned nearly 50 years in collegiate athletics.

Kaiser was named the SLIAC's third full-time commissioner in 2018 and during that time has brought in two full-time members to the league while also adding indoor track and field and men's and women's wrestling as championship sports. In addition, Kaiser strengthened the league by adding affiliate members to the SLIAC in both men's and women's golf and men's and women's wrestling; while also finding a home for the league's men's and women's tennis programs to secure automatic qualifying opportunities. 

Kaiser's leadership and experience was pivotal in guiding the league through the unprecedented COVID pandemic, helping the league become one of the few conferences in the country to safely hold all conference championships (17) for the 2020-21 school year. Kaiser has been essential in utilizing and growing the conference grant programs and served on the NCAA Division III Championship baseball committee. 

Prior to the SLIAC Kaiser had stops at Northwestern Oklahoma State University and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, helping them transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. He was the Athletic Director at NCAA Division III institution Defiance College, being named the NACDA D3 Athletic Director of the Year in 2007 and also served in that role at Olivet College, Western Oregon University, and Willamette University.

Before entering the administration side Kaiser was a coach with numerous football programs including Idaho State University, Brigham Young University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Dodge City Community College, and South Dakota State University. Kaiser began his coaching career at Pawnee High School in Grover, Colorado, where he also served as athletic director and a teacher in 1972.

SLIAC Leaders Remark on Dr. Kaiser Retirement

• Dr. Nancy Blattner, Fontbonne University President - "The members of the SLIAC will miss the leadership of Commissioner Dick Kaiser. During my time as chair of the presidents’ council, I enjoyed working with Dick to grow our conference and expand the number of championship teams. I especially appreciated his attendance at dozens of competitions in support of our student-athletes. Along with other members of the conference, I wish Dick well in his retirement and thank him for his service."
• Dr. Suzanne Davis, Greenville University President - "Dr. Kaiser has been a hallmark of our conference for many years. His consistency and love for intercollegiate athletics is inspiring. He’s always very present with all stakeholders, from presidents to AD’s to students, and relevant in every circle of influence. He will be dearly missed."
• Scott Killgallon, Webster University Athletic Director - “I want to thank Commissioner Dick Kaiser for doing a tremendous job leading the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) the past six years with his main focus of providing positive experiences for our student athletes. Since Dick’s arrival he made sportsmanship and academics a priority, and provided programming designed to develop the whole person through NCAA Tier grants. Dick is to be commended for aggressively pursuing new members to join the SLIAC and brokered associate memberships to preserve the NCAA Automatic Qualifier for our teams."
• Tom Ackerman, Greenville University Vice President for Athletics - "Dick has been a staple in the SLIAC office for many years and has done an amazing job. His dedication to expanding not only our conference, but opportunities for student athletes has been nothing short of inspiring. Thank you Dick."