The Emory University Department of Athletics finished ninth in the 2016-17 Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Division III standings, as announced by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
The ninth-place finish represents the 16th time in the past 17 years that Emory has recorded a top-10 showing -- 2000-01 (fourth), 2001-02 (fifth), 2002-03 (second), 2003-04 (second), 2004-05 (eighth), 2005-06 (fourth), 2006-07 (ninth), 2007-08 (seventh), 2008-09 (sixth), 2009-10 (18th) , 2010-11 (seventh), 2011-12 (sixth), 2012-13 (second), 2013-14 (sixth), 2014-15 (eighth) and 2015-16 (third). Emory registered a final total of 765.25 points.
Emory scored Directors’ Cup points in 12 sports in 2016-17 and captured national championships in women’s swimming and diving, men’s swimming and diving and men’s tennis. Other teams to come away with top-10 finishes in the Directors’ Cup included women’s tennis (2nd), and volleyball (5th).
Emory athletics also claimed six University Athletic Association championships this past school year – volleyball, women’s swimming and diving, men’s swimming and diving, men’s tennis, women’s tennis and golf.
Williams College (MA) finished in the No. 1 spot with 1,335.25 points, its 20th Directors’ Cup title in 22 years. A total of 324 schools accumulated points in the final Division III standings.
The Directors’ Cup is a program that honors institutions maintaining a broad-based program, achieving success in many sports, both men's and women's. Began in 1993-94 for Division I by NACDA and USA Today, it was expanded in 1995-96 to include Division II, III and the NAIA and, in 2011-12, expanded to the Junior/Community Colleges. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 18 sports -- nine women’s and nine men’s.