SIUE Reaches Record Heights in Learfield Sports D-I Directors’ Cup
SIUE Athletics shot up the charts to finish in the top 100 of the 2014-15 Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Division I Final Fall Standings.
With NCAA Tournament appearances by both men’s and women’s soccer, the Cougars earned 75 points in the rankings, which tied Oklahoma of the Big 12 Conference and Oakland of the Horizon League.
SIUE is tied for the No. 6 ranking in the nation among non-football schools, trailing only Providence (Big East), Iona (Metro Atlantic), Creighton (Big East), Portland (West Coast) and UMBC (America East).
“We are extremely excited for SIUE’s first top 100 appearance in the Learfield Sports Division I Directors’ Cup,” said SIUE Director of Athletics Dr. Brad Hewitt. “This is a reflection of the hard work of our student-athletes, coaching staff and administrative staff.”
The 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 up to 20 sports – 10 women’s and 10 men’s.
Points were awarded for nine fall NCAA Championships: women’s cross country, men’s cross country, field hockey, women’s soccer, men’s soccer, men’s water polo, women’s volleyball, FCS football and FBS football.
The SIUE women’s soccer team won the Ohio Valley Conference title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
The SIUE men’s soccer team won its first Missouri Valley Conference crown and reached the NCAA Tournament’s second round.
Only three other Ohio Valley Conference schools received points as SIUE is ranked behind Eastern Kentucky (81st), which has 76 points. Jacksonville State is tied for 101st. Murray State is tied for 149th.
