The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) has released the final standings for the United States Sports Academy Director’s Cup race for Division III for the 2003-2004 academic year. Williams College (MA) won the crown for NCAA Division III athletic programs after amassing 1,91.75 points, marking the second straight year the Ephs had surpassed the 1,000 point plateau. The College of New Jersey finished in fourth place with 751 points, marking the Lions ninth straight Top Four placing.

The title is the eighth in the last nine years for Williams College. The defending Directors’ Cup winner, Williams was the national runner-up in both men's basketball and tennis. Ten additional teams recorded top 10 finishes: women's tennis (3rd), women's cross country (4th), women's swimming and diving (4th), field hockey (5th), women's volleyball (5th), men's swimming and diving (6th), women's outdoor track and field (8th), women's softball (9th) and men's soccer (9th). The Ephs scored in eight women's and seven men's sports. Williams averaged 72 points per sport.

TCNJ picked up 751 points and finished in fourth place this past year, marking the Lions’ ninth straight Top Four placing in the Cup. Among the highlights on the year for TCNJ were a second place finish in women’s lacrosse, as well third place in both field hockey and women’s soccer. The women’s outdoor track and field team finished in fifth place, while the women’s cross country team finished in ninth place and the men’s cross country team took 12^th place. In wrestling, TCNJ took eighth place, while the men’s swimming program collected 14^th place and women’s swimming and diving team finished in 26^th place. Additional points were amassed in women’s basketball, women’s tennis and men’s and women’s indoor track and field.

Formerly, known as the Division III Sears Directors' Cup, the NACDA Directors’ Cup was developed by NACDA and was first awarded in 1995-1996.

Since that time, only TCNJ and Williams College have finished in the top four places in the standings in each of the program's nine previous years. Williams has now won eight titles overall, including the last six in a row.

The United State Sports Academy Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. The United States Sports Academy, based in Daphne, Alabama, is in its first year sponsoring the program. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 18 sports -- nine women's and nine men's. Each national champion receives 100 points.

The U.S.S.A. Directors’ Cup is awarded by NACDA to the best overall athletic program and is in its fifth year on the Division III level. The Directors’ Cup program, which awards Waterford Crystal trophies valued at $35,000 each, is the only national awards and scholarship program to recognize all NCAA and NAIA championship sports for both women’s and men’s athletics.

 

FINAL 2003-2004 DIVISION III STANDINGS

U.S.S.A. Directors’ Cup Division III History

Top-10 finish all Nine years (2 colleges):

The College of New Jersey, Williams College

Top-5 finish all Nine years (2 colleges):

The College of New Jersey, Williams College

NCAA Division III All-Time Top-2 Team Finishes

(Team Champions & Runners-up/since 1978-79)

*Current Division III institutions only

(-) number of sports championships won   **- joined NCAA Division II in 2000-2001

TCNJ’s Place Finishes in the Annual U.S.S.A. Directors’ Cup Race

Year                                    Finish                                  Points

1995-96                                Fourth                                    438.0

1996-97                                Second                                  589.0

1997-98                                Tied for Second                      460.0

1998-99                                Third                                     470.0

1999-00                                Third                                     702.5

2000-01                                Third                                     713.5

2001-02                                Third                                     751.0

2002-03                                Third                                     695.75

2003-04                                Fourth                                  751.0