File Photo | Erin Pence
Springfield, Ohio – Wittenberg University’s Department of Athletics recently completed another outstanding all-around academic year, ranking 48th out of 450 NCAA Division III schools in the final 2014-15 Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup, presented by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup was developed prior to the 1995-96 school year as a joint program between NACDA and USA Today, with points awarded based on each institution’s finish in up to 18 sports — nine women’s and nine men’s. Tiger teams finished the fall 2014 season with 89 points thanks to national finishes by the football and women’s volleyball teams. In the winter sports season, Wittenberg ran its point total to 171 thanks to national finishes in women’s basketball and men’s indoor track and field. The point total improved to 346 during the spring season thanks to a national runner-up finish for women’s golf and a third-place standing for the Tiger men’s golf team.
Wittenberg’s best finish ever in the NACDA Directors’ Cup came in 2002-03, when the Tigers placed 20th. The 2014-15 finish was the fifth top-50 placement for Wittenberg since the Directors’ Cup competition was created.
“Our goal as a department is to not only support the mission of our institution and be strong advocates for student success but to also provide a competitive athletic culture that is in line with the tradition and history of this university,” Wittenberg Director of Athletics and Recreation Gary Williams said. “I am so proud of our athletes, coaches and support staff for the amazing efforts they showed on the field this year. To be amongst the elite athletic programs in the country is a tremendous honor.”
With 346 points, Wittenberg was the third-highest ranked North Coast Athletic Conference school, behind only DePauw University (31st) and Kenyon (38th), and Wittenberg also ranked third among Ohio NCAA Division III institutions, behind only the University of Mount Union (17th) and Kenyon. Wittenberg previously finished third in the tightly contested 2014-15 NCAC All-Sports standings.
Williams finished first in the 2014-15 Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings, edging out Johns Hopkins by just 36.25 points. MIT, Washington University (Mo.) and Amherst rounded out the top five. Click here to view the final standings [PDF].
Wittenberg’s NACDA Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Finishes:
- 1995-96 — 35th
- 1996-97 — 52nd
- 1997-98 — 84th
- 1998-99 — 89th
- 1999-00 — 117th
- 2000-01 — 44th
- 2001-02 — 69th
- 2002-03 — 20th
- 2003-04 — 27th
- 2004-05 — 73rd
- 2005-06 — 73rd
- 2006-07 — 120th
- 2007-08 — 133rd
- 2008-09 — 141st
- 2009-10 — 58th
- 2010-11 — 59th
- 2011-12 — 50th
- 2012-13 — 91st
- 2013-14 — 91st
- 2014-15 — 48th
Written By: Ryan Maurer