Lakers break Division II record, winning 17th Directors’ Cup – Grand Valley Lanthorn

Grand Valley State University Athletics has set a Division II record, capturing its 17th Learfield Directors’ Cup for the 2024-2025 season.

June 10, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced GVSU accomplished a Division II record, garnering 1,080.5 points in 19 total sports. The trophy itself, known primarily as the all-sports trophy, is given to the top collegiate athletic program in the country each year.

“I think it takes a lot of time and hard work,” said Mike Williams, women’s basketball head coach. “It is an unstated goal where your players understand there is an expectation to uphold not only in our women’s basketball program, but also in the athletic department at GVSU.”

The total points are calculated based on order of finish in 15 collegiate sports, with a first-place finish earning 100 points, second-place 90, third-place 85, fourth-place 80 and lesser values for lower places, dependent on the sport. Colleges must include basketball, baseball and volleyball within the final point totals, while the remaining 11 sports are chosen by the institution. 

The Lakers took home national championship titles in women’s basketball and women’s outdoor track and field, giving the University maximum point values for the two sports.

The final scoring for GVSU is as follows:

• Women’s Basketball – 100
• Women’s Outdoor Track & Field – 100
• Men’s Indoor Track & Field – 90
• Women’s Indoor Track & Field – 85
• Women’s Cross Country – 80
• Men’s Outdoor Track & Field – 80
• Men’s Swimming & Diving – 80
• Men’s Cross Country – 75
• Women’s Soccer – 73
• Men’s Tennis – 73
• Women’s Swimming & Diving – 70.5
• Women’s Golf – 64
• Women’s Soccer – 50
• Volleyball – 50
• Baseball – 50

Trailing GVSU in Division II was Wingate University with 837.25 points. Additional Division II finishers for the cup were West Texas A&M University (806.25), the University of Indianapolis (789.75), the University of Tampa (755.50), Minnesota State University, Mankato (749.25), Pittsburg State University (709.00), Colorado School of Mines (671.00), Nova Southeastern University (647.25) and the University of Findlay (621.25). 

Other collegiate divisions compete for their own Directors’ Cup, with Emory University triumphing in Division III and the University of Texas in Division I. Mt. San Antonio College won in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and the University of Cumberlands claimed the title in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). 

This summer, GVSU also claimed the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) 2024-25 Presidents’ Trophy for the 26th consecutive year, as well as the 31st time overall in the GLIAC. The Presidents’ Cup Trophy, similar to the Directors’ Cup, is an all-sports trophy awarded at the end of each competition year to conference members demonstrating excellence in all sports. The trophy itself is designed to promote well-rounded athletic programs within each member’s institution.