The Wayne State University Department of Athletics placed 11th in the nation (out of 295 schools), the best finish in school history, in the final 2008-09 National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Directors' Cup Standings. The Warriors earned a school-record total of 499 points as nine of the 16 sports participated in their respective NCAA Championships. This places WSU in the top four percent of all NCAA Division II institutions.
"There is no better way to judge the overall competitive strength of an athletic program than through the NACDA rankings," stated WSU Director of Athletics Rob Fournier.
"In that regard, our highest national ranking ever is gratifying and should be a well deserved source of pride for our student-athletes, coaches and staff who deserve the acknowledgment. When you consider this ranking, in combination with our academic record and community service, we have an athletic department that reflects the strengths and prestige of the University."
WSU accumulated 163 points from three spring teams -- men's golf (13th) earned 63 points, softball (tied-for-17th) garnered 50 points, and women's tennis (tied-for-17th) also earned 50 points.
From its four winter sports that qualified for the NCAA Championships, Wayne State received 228 points [90 points in women's swimming and diving based on the squad's second-place finish at the NCAA Championship; the men's swimming and diving squad placed second at the NCAA Championship garnering 90 points; and the fencing teams (men's and women's combined) earned 48 points after finishing 14th at the NCAA Championship].
Wayne State recorded 108 points from the two cross country teams qualifying for the NCAA Championship. Both squads placed 12th each earning 54 points.
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.
WSU's best national finish prior to this year came a year ago as the Warriors placed 23rd in the nation in the final 2007-08 NACDA Directors' Cup Standings.
The Warriors eight best finishes ever in the NACDA Directors' Cup standings, which measures the overall performance of athletic programs around the country, have occurred in the last eight years. WSU has jumped 110 places in the standings in the last eight seasons.
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