2022-23 Learfield Directors' Cup NAIA Standings
SEWARD, Neb. – Runner up in the 2022-23 GPAC All-Sports Trophy Standing, Concordia University Athletics landed at No. 28 in the final 2022-23 Learfield Directors’ Cup NAIA Standings, as released on Tuesday (June 13) by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. The Bulldogs have placed in the top 30 in eight of the past nine years in which the standings were calculated (standings were not published in 2019-20 due to COVID-19). Concordia has finished in the top 25 on 10 separate occasions, according to date available since 1996-97.
The point totals are based on national championships qualifications and national finishes. The Learfield College Directors’ Cup Standings are designed to “honor institutions that maintain a broad-based program, achieve success in many sports, both men's and women's, in which all sports that the NAIA offers a championship, and all student-athletes that compete in those sports, are treated equally.”
Bulldog Athletics, guided by Director of Athletics Devin Smith and Associate Director of Athletics Angela Muller, accumulated 507.5 points in the 2022-23 Directors’ Cup standings. Broken down by season, Concordia posted 136.0 points in the fall, 225.0 in the winter and 146.50 in the spring. Sports that contributed to the total based on success at the national level included women’s track & field, men’s track & field, men’s soccer, volleyball, baseball, men’s basketball and women’s basketball.
Based upon data going back to 1996-97, Concordia’s highest ever finish in the NAIA Directors’ Cup standings was ninth in 2004-05. From 2014-15 through 2016-17, Bulldog Athletics recorded three-straight top 20 placements. Concordia placed 22nd nationally in 2021-22. The 2022-23 athletics season was highlighted by conference championships turned in by women’s indoor track & field, women’s outdoor track & field and men’s soccer. Bulldog athletes appeared at 15 separate national championship events. That total includes powerlifting and weightlifting.
2022-23 Accomplishments
· GPAC All-Sports Standings runner up
· No. 28 in final Learfield Directors’ Cup NAIA Standings
· Three GPAC titles
· 11 top-four GPAC regular season placements
· Appearances in 15 separate national championship events
· 201 NAIA Scholar-Athletes
· 38 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District awards
Concordia Learfield Cup finishes since 1997
2022-23: 28th
2021-22: 22nd
2020-21: 14th
2019-20: No standings due to COVID-19
2018-19: 30th
2017-18: 45th
2016-17: 17th
2015-16: 16th
2014-15: 18th
2013-14: 29th
2012-13: 57th
2011-12: 34th
2010-11: 44th
2009-10: 27th
2008-09: 24th
2007-08: 39th
2006-07: 62nd
2005-06: 50th
2004-05: 9th
2003-04: 30th
2002-03: 12th
2001-02: 25th
2000-01: 34th
1999-00: 43rd
1998-99: 53rd
1997-98: 30th
1996-97: 16th