June 21, 2004
The University of Denver athletics program set a school record with its 58th-place finish in the 2004 edition of the United States Sports Academy (USSA) Directors' Cup presented by the nation's athletics directors to recognize the best collegiate programs in the country. Denver finished in the top 20 percent of the nation's approximately 327 NCAA Division I athletics programs, and was the top Sun Belt Conference School. The Pioneers were second among Colorado Front Range Schools and second among NCAA Division I-AAA (non-football) schools.
The Pioneers earned 100 points from the hockey team's national championship and 85 points for the ski team's third-place finish. The women's gymnastics team earned 59.25 points for its sixth consecutive North Central NCAA Regional appearance. The women's soccer team and women's tennis team each garnered 25 points, and the women's golf team earned 23 points while the men's golf team earned 17.5 points.
"Our finish indicates we have a number of teams competing at the highest level. It is a testament to the outstanding efforts made by our coaches and student-athletes," said Dr. M. Dianne Murphy, director of athletics and recreation. "The hockey team's national championship is a significant accomplishment. We also have several sports that are at NCAA Championship level, and we will continue to grow as a top Division I athletics program."
Stanford University continued its record NACDA winning streak by winning its 10th consecutive award, presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. Colorado was the highest-placing Front Range school with 395 points, good for 49th place. Denver was next among Front Range schools with 334.75, while Colorado State finished 89th (188 points). Denver was first among Sun Belt Conference schools while Louisiana-Lafayette finished 126th (125.5 points), Middle Tennessee was 131 (123 points), Western Kentucky was 139th (113 points), Florida International was 185 (64 points), South Alabama was 200th (50 points). Among other Front Range schools, Air Force finished 80th (202 points) and Wyoming placed 116th (139 points). Denver finished second among NCAA Division I-AAA schools behind Pepperdine (51st with 375.5 points).
Denver has finished in the top third of the competition in each of its six years as members of NCAA Division I. In the 2002-03 academic year, the University of Denver finished 73rd with 214.75 points in the United States Sports Academy Directors' Cup. In the 2001-02 academic year, Denver was 75th with 241 points. Previously, Denver was 87th with 180 points in 2000-01, 102nd with 153 points in 1999-2000, and 74th with 110 points in 1998-99, the first year in NCAA Division I.
Developed as a joint effort between USA TODAY and NACDA, the United States Sports Academy Directors' Cup program is the only all-sports competition that recognizes the institution in each of the four categories with the best overall athletics program. NACDA, which is now in its 38th year, is the professional and educational association for more than 6,100 college athletics directors, associates, assistants and conference commissioners at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. Through its series of management seminars, clinics and workshops and publication of the bi-monthly magazine Athletics Administration, NACDA offers educational opportunities to its members. More than 1,200 athletics administrators annually attend the NACDA Convention. Additionally, the Association operates the USSA Directors' Cup program, which honors the all-sports champion in each of the NCAA Divisions -- I, II, III -- and the NAIA, for a total of four trophies.
