CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Grand Valley State has captured its 12th total and fourth consecutive Division II Learfield Directors’ Cup. The Lakers will be honored at the 2017 NACDA Convention during the Learfield Directors’ Cup Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, June 14. Overall, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) landed seven programs inside the top 60.
The Lakers tallied 1,020 total points, scoring in the maximum 14 sports, including a national championship in women’s cross country and four runner-up finishes. GVSU had two scores omitted due to the seven maximum allowed for women’s (softball and tennis). California Baptist has finished in the top-five in the final standings, recording 750.25 total points and scoring in the maximum 14 total sports, including four top 10 finishes. This marks the 16th straight year the Lakers have finished either first or second in the D2 Learfield Directors' Cup standings.
Findlay scored 458.50 points to finish 26th in the standings, while Ashland ended up in 34th position with a 423 point total. The Tiffin Dragons recorded 407 points in 2016-17 for a 36th place showing just in front of No. 38 Saginaw Valley with 395 points. Ferris State crept inside the Top 50 at No. 46 with 371.75 points, while Wayne State placed 55th with 323 points.
2017 Division II Learfield Sports Directors' Cup Final Standings: Complete Standings | By Conference
| Rank | School | Points |
| 1 | Grand Valley State | 1020 |
| 26 | Findlay | 458.50 |
| 34 | Ashland | 423 |
| 36 | Tiffin | 407 |
| 38 | Saginaw Valley | 395 |
| 46 | Ferris State | 371.75 |
| 55 | Wayne State | 323 |
| 69 | Northern Michigan | 274 |
| 92 | Northwood | 230 |
| 96 | Hillsdale | 222.50 |
| 124 | Walsh | 169.75 |
| 207 | Michigan Tech | 63 |
| 216 | Lake Erie | 50.50 |
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.
About Learfield: 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 more than 120 collegiate institutions, conferences and arenas, and supports athletics departments 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; branding, licensing and trademark consulting; digital and social platform expertise; campus-wide business and sponsorship development; and venue and technology systems through its affiliated companies.