Michigan Finishes Fifth in Final NACDA Directors' Cup Standings

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Highlighted by three top-five national finishes, including a national runner-up placing from men's gymnastics, the University of Michigan placed fifth in the 2008-09 Learfield Sports Directors' Cup Division I final standings, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics announced on June 29.

This marks U-M's third straight showing in the top five in the cup's 16-year existence. Stanford won its 15th straight crown with 1,455 points and was followed by North Carolina (1,184.25) and Florida (1,172.75) in second and third, respectively.

Points are accumulated after each athletics season based on an institution's finish in up to 20 sports throughout the year, 10 each for men and women. U-M had 10 men's teams and 10 women's teams score points. Complete standings and the scoring structure can be found on the NACDA web site.

In women's water polo, the Wolverines captured their second consecutive Eastern Championship and placed fifth in the nation at the 2009 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship hosted by the University of Maryland.

Michigan has finished in the top 11 of the Directors' Cup standings in 15 of the award's 16 seasons, including a runner-up finish in 2003-04 and a third-place standing in 1999-2000 and 2007-08. A quintet of Wolverine squads won conference titles in 2008-09: men's (co-champion) and women's gymnastics, softball, men's swimming and diving and women's water polo.

Release courtesy University of Michigan