Rick Kindhart was presented with the Mal Mayse Distinguished Service Award during the 2026 MSHSAA Fall Softball Championships, recognizing a distinguished career in athletics communications and his lasting contributions to the Missouri State High School Activities Association.
Kindhart joined MSHSAA in 1996 as the Association’s first communications director, marking an important step forward in how MSHSAA documented, promoted and communicated the accomplishments of its member schools and students. He was promoted to assistant director in 2001 and spent a total of 11 years as a member of the Association’s executive staff.
During his tenure, Kindhart helped establish much of the foundation for MSHSAA’s communications efforts today. In 1999, he researched, organized and published the first-ever MSHSAA Record Book, while also greatly expanding the Association’s championship records across all sports. His work created a more comprehensive historical record of high school athletics in Missouri and established resources that MSHSAA continues to build upon today.
Kindhart was also at the forefront of MSHSAA’s early move into digital communications. He served on the action team that established the original mshsaa.org website in 1996 and later contributed to its redesign in 2007.
His impact extended well beyond publications and the website. Kindhart coordinated and helped establish three committees that remain important to the Association: the Media Advisory Committee, Sportsmanship Committee and Student Advisory Committee. He also helped establish the Statewide Sportsmanship Summit, Junior High Essay Contest, Traditions Program and Missouri’s delegation to the NFHS Student Leadership Conference.
Kindhart also played a significant role in expanding the reach of MSHSAA championship events. He negotiated a regional television package with Fox Sports that grew from three telecasts during the 1996-97 school year to 10 games in 2007-08. By the end of his tenure, the package reached a seven-state footprint and more than seven million homes.
His service to MSHSAA did not end when he left the Association. Kindhart has continued to be an important contributor to MSHSAA Championships, particularly those hosted in Springfield. He has assisted the Association in staffing championship events with experienced press box personnel, including statisticians, while also providing valuable support with game operations.
Kindhart returned to his alma mater, Missouri State University, in 2008 as director of athletics communications and was promoted to associate director of athletics in 2024. He has more than 30 years of experience in athletics communications and has earned numerous national writing and publication awards during his career.
Under his leadership, Missouri State has twice earned Missouri Valley Conference Sports Information Office of the Year honors. Kindhart has also received national recognition for his work on football media guides, softball media guides and men’s basketball programs, and has served on media relations teams for major events including the 2006 NCAA Men’s Final Four and 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball St. Louis Regional.
A 1991 honors graduate of Missouri State, Kindhart earned his master’s degree from Southeast Missouri State University in 1993. His career also included stops at Southeast Missouri State, Delta State University and the NCAA National Office.
Kindhart’s contributions have previously earned him MSHSAA citations for officiating in 1996 and staff service in 2002 and 2007.
Named in honor of longtime MSHSAA leader Mal Mayse, the Distinguished Service Award honors individuals whose dedication and service have made a lasting impact on interscholastic activities across the state.