UW-Oshkosh Finishes 31st In Learfield Directors’ Cup

CLEVELAND, Ohio- With top-ten finishes from women's volleyball in the fall, men's indoor track & field in the winter and both softball and men's outdoor track & field in the spring, UW-Oshkosh finished 31st in the 2023-24 NCAA Division III Learfield Directors' Cup standings.

The competition, which began in 1996, is designed to recognize the best overall athletics program in the country.

The Titans totaled 512 points during the academic year to record their seventh straight year in the top-40 and scored points in eight sports; three men's and five women's. The award was not presented in 2020 or 2021 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The UW-Oshkosh women's gymnastics team's first-place finish at the 2024 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championship does not count toward the Learfield Directors' Cup scoring.

UW-Oshkosh scored 90 points on its national runner up finish from the men's outdoor track & field team and 85 from the team finishing third at the indoor national meet.

The Titans also tallied 78 points on a fifth-place finish in softball, 73 on a fifth-place finish in women's volleyball, 64 on a ninth-place finish in women's basketball, 51.5 on a 20th-place finish in women's outdoor track & field, 47 on a 24th-place finish in women's indoor track & field and 23.5 on a 49th-place finish in men's wrestling.

Johns Hopkins University (Md.) claimed the Directors' Cup with 1,117.50 total points. Williams College (Mass.) scored 1,026.08 points for second and Emory University (Ga.) finished third with 1,009. Tufts University (Mass.) and New York University rounded out the top-five with 992.50 and 964.50 points respectively.

The WIAC was led by UW-Whitewater with a 10th place finish (843.75 points) and UW-La Crosse with an 11th place finish (804 points). UW-Eau Claire finished in 36th with 451.25 points to round out the top-four finishing schools. Other WIAC schools placing the standings include: UW-Stout at 64th with 292.50 points; UW-Platteville at 90th with 219.75; UW-Stevens Point at 139th with 135.50 and UW-River Falls at 164th with 105.

Overall, up to 18 total sports may count towards the final Directors' Cup standings, four of which must be men's basketball and soccer, and women's basketball and soccer, leaving the next 14 highest points scored to also be counted. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in NCAA Championships.

The Learfield Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each school's national postseason finish in up to nine sports for men and nine for women. Each national champion received 100 points.

UW-Oshkosh achieved Learfield Directors' Cup top-10 finishes in 1996 (third), 1997 (fifth), 2001 (seventh), 2002 (eighth), 2003 (eighth) and 1999 (10th). The Titans other placements were 11th in 1998; 12th in 2007 & 2011; 15th in 2004; 17th in 2009, 2012, 2014 & 2016; 21st in 2008 & 2013; 23rd in 2010; 28th in 2019; 29th in 2000; 31st in 2022; 33rd in 2006; 34th in 2017; 36th in 2023; 37th in 2018; 38th in 2005; and 44th in 2015.