James E. Williams was the head of Wayne Country Day School in the early 1970's when he and a group of heads and AD's from other eastern schools envisioned a statewide athletic organization of independent schools for the purpose of providing state tournaments. In 1973 representatives from twenty six North Carolina schools met at Ravenscroft School in Raleigh with Calvin Criner, coordinator of non-public schools for the NC Department of Public Education, who served as moderator for this initial formative session. Mr. Williams spearheaded the formation fo tournaments in boys' and girls' basketball, tennis, and golf for the 1974-1975 school year. These events were the first organized post season events for the group we know now as the NCISAA. When Jimmy Williams left for a position at Mount Olive College, David A. Thompson became the President of the organization.

David A. Thompson, our organization's second President, quickly earned the trust of schools from all sectors of North Carolina and led the expansion necessary to become a truly state-wide entity. Mr. Thompson formed a working committee who, under his leadership, developed rules for state tournament in an increasing number of sports. He also procured the first corporate sponsorship for the NCISAA from the Wachovia Bank and Trust Company - a partnership that has grown and continues to this day. Mr. Thompson also laid out the groundwork for the establishment of two classifications of tournaments based upon school enrollment. He is now retired and lives in Lake Norman, NC.

Charles N. Carter was the Director of Athletics at Asheville School from 1967 to 2007. During his tenure he expanded the school's program from 10 to 28 interscholastic teams. Chuck's basketball teams won 17 conference championships; his baseball team won 12 conference championships and one state chamionship. He was President of the NCISAA from 1985 to 2001 while continuing to serve as AD at Asheville School. In 2001, Chuck was appointed the first official Executive Director of the NCISAA.