University of Tampa Finishes 9th in Learfield Directors' Cup Standings
CLEVELAND – The University of Tampa finished ninth overall as the LEARFIELD Directors' Cup for unveiled for the 2022-23 season, awarding schools for participation and success at NCAA Division II Championships.
This marks the second-highest finish in the history of the Directors' Cup for the University of Tampa, which was fifth following the 2007-08 campaign. Just the second time in school history that UT finished inside the top 10, the Spartans were up five spots from a No. 14 finish last season. Tampa finished with a total of 623.00 points this season.
The fall season included Director's Cup success from three UT teams as volleyball led all teams in the season with 64 points. Women's cross country added 45 points as men's soccer contributed 25.
The winter season included three long runs by Tampa teams, led by men's swimming with 80 points following their fourth-place finish. Overall, men's swimming led all Tampa teams in points in 2022-23. Women's basketball added 73, while women's swimming had 67.5.
The spring season saw a total of five Spartans teams reach the postseason, with women's golf leading the way with 65 points. Softball followed with 64 points as women's lacrosse added 60 and baseball with 50. Men's lacrosse had 25 points as men's golf also contributed with 5 points.
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Top Five
For the 15th time in the LEARFIELD Directors' Cup history, Grand Valley State University (GVSU) will take home the hardware after compiling 936.75 total points in 17 total sports, including one of the four sports that must be counted. The Lakers tallied two runner-up finishes – women's cross country and softball – along with two third-place finishes (men's indoor track and field and women's lacrosse).
Finishing second for the third time in school history and second consecutive season is West Texas A&M with 904.75 points. The Lady Buffs captured the women's volleyball title, while the men's outdoor track and field team took home second. Overall, West Texas A&M scored in three of the four sports that must be counted – women's volleyball and basketball and men's basketball – along with maximum 11 additional sports.
Third place goes to Colorado School of Mines with 855.00 total points, making it the fourth straight time that they have finished in the top-10 and it marks the Orediggers highest finish. Colorado School of Mines won the men's cross country national championship and scored in three of four countable sports, along with 12 additional sports. Overall, one sport was omitted from the final standings, wrestling.
In fourth is Indianapolis with 829.25 total points. The Greyhounds have finished in the top-5 six previous times. Indianapolis scored in the top-10 in 8 of its 13 sports scored (2 of 4 countable sports, 11 additional sport), including a national championship in men's swimming and diving and a runner-up finish in women's swimming. Due to scoring in the more than the 11 additional sports, two scores were omitted in the final total, women's outdoor track and field and football.
Rounding out the top-5 is Wingate with 794.25 total points, its highest finish in the Cup standings. The Bulldogs scored in 13 of 15 sports with its highest showing in men's cross country (2nd). Overall, Wingate scored of 2 of 4 countable sports, along with 15 additional total sports. The following scores were removed – women's soccer and tennis, men's lacrosse and outdoor track and field - due to the maximum additional sports to be counted is 11.
Conference
At the conference level, the LSC (West Texas A&M and Angelo State) and SSC (Nova Southeastern and Tampa) both have two institutions ranked in the top-10.
Next Up
The Division II LEARFIELD Directors' Cup will start up again after the fall 2023 Division II Championships.
Scoring Reminder
Overall, 15 sports are counted in the final DII standings, four of which must be women's volleyball and basketball and men's basketball and baseball. The next highest (11 max.) sports scored for each institution, regardless of gender, are used in the standings.
The LEARFIELD Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in NCAA Championships.
Please note, standings published midseason are unofficial. Official standings will be published upon the completion of the spring season. Complete standings and the scoring structure can be found on NACDA's website at www.directorscup.org. In addition, please visit www.thedirectorscup.com and follow us on Twitter @ldirectorscup.
About LEARFIELD
LEARFIELD is a media, data, and technology services leader in intercollegiate athletics. The company unlocks the value of college sports for brands and fans through an omnichannel platform with innovative content and commerce solutions. LEARFIELD services include licensing and collegiate sports properties' multimedia sponsorship management; publishing, audio, digital and social media; data analytics and insights; ticketing software; and ticket sales, premium seating, and fundraising services; branding; campus-wide business and sponsorship development. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for NACDA's acclaimed LEARFIELD Directors' Cup, recognizing athletic departments across all divisions.