GLIAC Leads Division II with Seven Top 50 Programs
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Grand Valley State won its 11th total and third consecutive Division II Learfield Directors’ Cup this year in historic fashion. Grand Valley State will be honored at the 2016 NACDA Convention during the Learfield Directors’ Cup Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, June 14. Overall, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) landed seven programs inside the top 50 - the most of any NCAA Division II conference.
The Lakers tallied a record 1,070 total points, scoring in the maximum 14 sports, including a national championship in women’s soccer, a runner-up finish in women’s cross country and 11 top five finishes. GVSU had five scores omitted due to the seven maximum allowed for women’s (volleyball, lacrosse, softball and tennis) and men’s sports (men’s golf). GVSU finished with 346.50 points ahead of Saint Leo in second place, while UC San Diego took third. This marks the 15th straight year the Lakers have finished either first or second in the D2 Learfield Directors' Cup standings.
Ashland scored 522.75 points to finish 14th in the standings, while Findlay ended up in 24th position with a 463.25 point total. The Tiffin Dragons recorded 372.25 points in 2015-16 for their best-ever 34th place showing just in front of No. 36 Hillsdale with 367.50 points. The final two GLIAC squads inside the top 50 were Ferris State and Saginaw Valley, who represent the No. 44 and No. 45 rankings.
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.
2016 Division II Learfield Sports Directors' Cup Final Standings: Complete Standings | By Conference
| Rank | School | Points |
| 1 | Grand Valley State | 1070 |
| 14 | Ashland | 522.75 |
| 24 | Findlay | 463.25 |
| 34 | Tiffin | 372.25 |
| 36 | Hillsdale | 367.50 |
| 44 | Ferris State | 351 |
| 45 | Saginaw Valley | 340.50 |
| 70 | Northern Michigan | 280 |
| 84 | Wayne State | 246 |
| 150 | Northwood | 140 |
| 159 | Walsh | 131 |
| 193 | Malone | 91 |
| 207 | Lake Superior State | 67.50 |
| 234 | Lake Erie | 45 |
| 238 | Michigan Tech | 40 |
The Learfield 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 in Division II – seven men’s and seven women’s; and 18 sports in Division III – nine women’s and nine men’s.
An industry leader for more than four decades, Learfield has a deep presence in the college athletics landscape nationwide. It manages the multimedia and sponsorship rights for 120 collegiate institutions, conferences and arenas, and supports athletic department’s at all competitive levels as title sponsor of the prestigious Learfield Directors’ Cup. Learfield also provides its collegiate partners access to professional concessions and ticket sales; licensing and trademark consulting; digital platform expertise; and venue and technology systems through its affiliated companies. For more about Learfield’s history, businesses and career opportunities, visit www.learfieldsports.com.