Virginia Finishes Eighth In Learfield Directors’ Cup

jerryratcliffe.com

Posted on Friday, Jun. 28, 2019, 7:29 pm

Follow Jerry Ratcliffe on Twitter

Advertising inquiries: Connect with us

Email Jerry Ratcliffe: jratcliffe7000@gmail.com

 

Courtesy UVA Sports Media Relations

NCAA championships in men’s basketball and men’s lacrosse propelled Virginia to an eighth-place finish in the final 2018-19 Learfield IMG College Directors’ Cup competition, announced Friday by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

Virginia posted its sixth top-10 finish in the decade and placed in the top 25 for the 13th consecutive year. UVA is one of 12 schools to rank in the top 30 of the final Directors’ Cup standings in the 26-year existence of the program.

Points in the Director’s Cup standings are awarded by a school’s NCAA postseason finish in 19 sports, four of which must be men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and volleyball.

“Our top-10 finish in the Directors’ Cup reflects the hard work and dedication of our student-athletes, coaches and staff,” Virginia Director of Athletics Carla Williams said. “We had a fantastic athletics season, highlighted by a pair of NCAA championships. Our fans gave us incredible support, and we look forward to ensuring our sports programs are a source of great pride for the University, the community and the Commonwealth.”

In addition to the pair of NCAA championships, 21 other UVA teams – or programs with individuals representing their teams – appeared in postseason competition.

Women’s swimming and diving finished sixth at the NCAA Championships and men’s tennis and women’s lacrosse each advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight. Men’s swimming and diving and rowing each placed 10th at the NCAA Championships, while men’s soccer, women’s soccer and field hockey each advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16. Women’s golf placed 14th at the NCAA Championships.

UVA captured two Atlantic Coast Conference championships and its 81 conference titles since the spring of 2002 are the most of any ACC school during that time. In 2018-19, UVA won ACC championships in men’s lacrosse (18th overall and first since 2010) and rowing (10 consecutive and 19th in 20 years).

Individually, Jordan Scott became the first ACC male competitor to win the indoor national title in the triple jump, while wrestler Jack Muller was the runner-up at the NCAA Championships in the 125-pound weight class. Tony Bennett (men’s basketball), Andres Pedroso (men’s tennis), Lars Tiffany (men’s lacrosse) and Bryan Fetzer (men’s outdoor track & field) earned ACC Coach of the Year honors.

Additional highlights of Virginia’s 2018-19 athletics year included:

  • Football participated in back-to-back bowl games for the first time since 2004-05, capturing the Belk Bowl with a 28-0 win over South Carolina
  • Men’s basketball captured its first NCAA title, earned a share of its ninth ACC regular-season championship and won a school-record 35 games
  • Men’s lacrosse won its sixth NCAA title and first since 2011
  • UVA posted a graduation rate of 92 percent in the NCAA’s annual Graduation Success Rate for incoming student-athletes from 2008 to 2011. It is the highest mark for Virginia since the report was launched in 1998
  • Seven UVA teams earned Public Recognition Awards for the NCAA for academic excellence after scoring in the top 10 percent of the most recent NCAA Division I Academic Progress Report. Team recognized were men’s golf, women’s basketball, women’s golf, women’s lacrosse, women’s track and field, women’s swimming and diving and volleyball
  • Virginia announced The Master Plan to transform the athletics precinct on North Grounds.
  • The demolition of historic University Hall was started in November and the building was imploded on May 25
  • Virginia defeated Virginia Tech 12.5 to 9.5 in the Commonwealth Clash All-Sports competition between the two schools
  • Baseball pitcher Chesdin Harrington, softball pitcher Erika Osherow and swimmer Rachael Politi received Weaver-James-Corrigan postgraduate scholarships from the ACC.
  • Long-time head coach and sport administrator Jane Miller announced her retirement after 35 years of service to the athletics department.

Stanford finished first in the NCAA Division I Directors’ Cup standings for the 23rd consecutive year with 1,567.75 points and Michigan was second with 1,272.25 points.

UVA was one of five ACC programs to finish in the top 25 of the Directors’ Cup standings. Other ACC schools in the top 25 of the Directors’ Cup standings were Florida State (7th, 1,046.25), Duke (9th, 1,001), North Carolina (10th, 987) and Notre Dame (17th, 885). There are five Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup awards, one to honor the institution with the best overall athletics program in each of the NCAA’s Divisions I and I-AAA, II and III, and the NAIA. The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between NACDA and USA Today.

2018-19 Learfield IMG College Directors’ Cup Final Top 25 Point Standings:

1. Stanford — 1567.75

2. Michigan — 1272.25

3. Florida — 1156.75

4. Texas — 1148.50

5. USC — 1075.75

6. UCLA — 1056.50

7. Florida State — 1046.25

8. Virginia — 1037.50

9. Duke — 1001.00

10. North Carolina — 987.00

11. LSU — 986.83

12. Ohio State — 986.00

13. Penn State — 963.50

14. Kentucky — 947.75

15. Texas A&M — 933.75

16. Wisconsin — 895.00

17. Notre Dame — 885.00

18. California — 835.75

19. Arizona State — 821.00

20. Minnesota — 813.75

21. Georgia — 808.00

22. S. Carolina — 805.75

23. Arkansas — 803.00

24. Washington — 801.00

25. Tennessee — 797.75

ACC Schools in Final 2018-19 Directors’ Cup Standings:

7. Florida State — 1046.25

8. Virginia — 1037.50

9. Duke — 1001.00

10. North Carolina — 987.00

17. Notre Dame — 885.00

26. NC State — 794.00

35. Louisville — 648.50

36. Wake Forest — 648.25

49. Virginia Tech — 511.83

54. Syracuse — 463.50

58. Miami — 420.83

66. Georgia Tech — 358.00

73. Clemson — 305.00

87. Boston College — 216.00

137. Pittsburgh — 114.50

Schools Ranked in the Top-30 of All 24 Directors’ Cup Point Standings (1994-2019):

California

Florida

Georgia

Michigan

North Carolina

Ohio State

Penn State

Stanford

Texas

UCLA

USC

Virginia

Virginia’s Final Position in Each of the Directors’ Cup Rankings:

2019 — 8th

2018 — 21st

2017 — 19th

2016 — 8th

2015 — 6th

2014 — 4th

2013 — 20th

2012 — 15th

2011 — 7th

2010 — 3rd

2009 — 8th

2008 — 17th

2007 — 13th

2006 — 26th

2005 — 13th

2004 — 30th

2003 — 19th

2002 — 27th

2001 — 30th

2000 — 13th

1999 — 8th

1998 — 13th

1997 — 22nd

1996 — 21st

1995 — 19th (tie)

1994 — 19th