NSU Finishes 14th in the Learfield Directors’ Cup Standings

Sharks finish in the top 15 for the second time in five seasons.

After winning the 2015 NCAA Division II Men’s Golf National Championship just two weeks ago, the Nova Southeastern University athletic department finished 14^th in the final Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings. The Sharks athletic programs accumulated 542 points throughout 2014-15 to finish 14th out of 300 Division II institutions, 252 of which were ranked in the final standings.

“Finishing in the top 15 in the Directors’ Cup standings is certainly a tremendous recognition of our athletic programs – a recognition that our entire university community can be proud of and can share in,” Director of Athletics Michael Mominey said. “This is a result of the great work of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and really all of the people who contribute to the mission of intercollegiate athletics at NSU throughout the year. We continue to educate young men and women through athletics and truly aspire to be one of the best Division II programs in the country.”

The Sharks’ 14^th-place finish is the second-highest finish in school history next to their ninth-place finish in 2012-13, and is the second time the department has finished in the top 15 since joining the NCAA in 2002. NSU’s consistent postseason performance has also kept the department in the top 30 of the Directors’ Cup standings for the past five seasons. The Sharks finished 22^nd overall in back-to-back years of 2010-11 and 2011-12, ninth in 2012-13, and 27^th last season.

NSU accumulated 289 points during the spring season, 222 points in the winter and 31 points in the fall. Heading into the final championships of the year, the Sharks were ranked 21^st, but were propelled seven spots behind the 100 points earned from the men’s golf national championship title. Women’s golf finished fifth overall, earning 75 points, while men’s track and field earned 32.5, women’s track and field 31.5, and baseball and women’s tennis each earned 25 points.

During the winter championships, the women’s swimming team topped the results finishing fourth overall and earning 80 points, women’s basketball finished fifth for 73 points and men’s swimming tallied 69 points with a seventh-place finish. During the fall season, the Sharks’ men’s cross country team recorded 31 total points toward the final standings.

Grand Valley State was the 2014-15 Learfield Directors’ Cup winner for the second straight season, this time besting Ashland by 245.5 points. All nine Sunshine State Conference institutions were ranked in the final standings with four cracking the top 20 and eight of the nine finishing 81^st or higher.

The Learfield Sports 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 14 sports — seven women’s and seven men’s.

About Learfield Sports: Since 1972, Learfield has developed trusted, long-term relationships with some of the most revered institutions and associations in the world of collegiate athletics. Learfield Sports currently manages the exclusive multimedia rights to nearly 100 collegiate properties in the country and has prominence in all of the major conferences. Additionally, Learfield Sports offers its university partners with licensing and trademark consulting, web solutions, concessions and hospitality services, and professional ticket sales. The 2014-15 athletic season marks the company’s seventh consecutive year to title the prestigious Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup. For more about its history and complete collegiate portfolio, visit www.learfieldsports.com.