Denver Finishes Ahead of all Non-Football Schools in Directors' Cup Standings

By Press release submission

Jun 28, 2022

The University of Denver Division of Athletics has finished ahead of all Division I non-football schools in the 2021–22 Directors' Cup standings. This is the ninth consecutive year and the 13th time in the last 14 years that DU has accomplished this feat.

The Pioneer’s 59th-place national finish marks the ninth time in a row Denver has finished in the top 60 of the overall standings. Prior to 2008, the University had only finished in the top 60 once. The 417.75 points earned this year surpasses last year’s point total and is only one point behind the University of Colorado.

“Congratulations to our Pioneer student-athletes, coaches and staff, including departing Vice Chancellor Karlton Creech, for yet another tremendously successful athletic season,” newly named Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Ritchie Center Operations Josh Berlo said. “During my time at Notre Dame and Minnesota Duluth, as well as through the interview process here in Denver, it is clear that an incredible tradition of broad-based success exists here at DU. I think there’s something special about an athletics program that is able to concurrently achieve excellence across several different sports.”

The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. It is presented annually to the nation’s best overall collegiate programs. Points are awarded based on each institution’s finish in up to 19 total teams.

The winter sport season earned 245.75 points, more than half of DU’s total. A national championship from the men’s hockey team, and strong performances by both women’s gymnastics and the men’s and women’s ski teams contributed to the score.

In the spring, the Pioneers earned a total of 122 points. Women’s lacrosse led the way with 53 points after advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In the fall, men’s soccer earned all of DU’s 50 total points by also advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

As impressive as the success is for DU on the field, the program’s continued success in the classroom is also remarkable. The Division of Athletics finished with a 95% graduation success rate. Additionally, 10 of the 17 eligible athletics programs earned a perfect score from the NCAA in its annual Academic Progress Rate (APR) report, a scorecard of academic achievement for all Division I sports teams. That performance represents DU’s best showing to date in this category.

“I’ve always found that just like when student-athletes are achieving at the highest level — when they are succeeding competitively, academically and socially — when an athletics department and a university have multiple disciplines excelling at a high level, it is emblematic of an institutional commitment and approach that results in perpetual levels of success,” Berlo said.

Directors' Cup Points and Rankings