Out With a Bang

July 5, 2011

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa Athletics Department officially closed the 2010-11 athletics year with a bang, establishing a school record in total points scored in the annual Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup.

The Hawkeyes accumulated 510 points in the competition that awards points based on each institution’s finish in national championship competition in up to 20 total sports (10 women’s and 10 men’s). Iowa finished 43rd among 284 NCAA Division I institutions.

The UI’s previous best point total came in 2008-09 when it accumulated 474.3 points to finish 45th. The Hawkeyes’ best place finish came in 2004-05 when they scored 467 points to finish 39th.

Iowa’s success in 2010-11 was powered by its performance in the national championship events during the winter sports season. The Hawkeyes accumulated 372.75 of its total as a result of their finishes at the NCAA wrestling (third place) , men’s and women’s indoor track (eighth and 50th, respectively), men’s and women’s swimming and diving (35th and 30th), and men’s and women’s gymnastics (eight and 25th) championships.

The Hawkeyes also received a boost during the fall with the football team’s victory in the 2010 Insight Bowl. That win was Iowa’s third straight in postseason bowl games. Iowa’s Director’s Cup point total also was boosted in the spring by the UI men’s golf team’s 10th-place finish at the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship — the highest finish in the national championship in school history.

“The Directors’ Cup is just one of a handful of tools our staff uses to measure success, so it’s exciting to see the hard work of our coaches and student-athletes has been rewarded by this achievement. The plan now is to take the momentum of this year and build on it,” said Gary Barta, the UI’s director of athletics.

Stanford outdistanced Ohio State and California to win its 17th straight Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup. The Cardinal accumulated 1,550.25 total points.