TAR HEELS 5th IN FINAL LEARFIELD DIRECTORS’ CUP STANDINGS
CHAPEL HILL – The University of North Carolina finished fifth in the 2014-15 Learfield Directors’ Cup, its highest finish since 2009 and UNC’s 18th top 10 finish in the 22-year history of the award.
The Tar Heels compiled 1,152 points. Stanford won the Directors’ Cup for the 21st consecutive season (Carolina won the Directors’ Cup in its inaugural season in 1994) with 1,448 points. The Cardinal held a 212-point margin over second place UCLA. Southern California was third, Florida fourth, Carolina fifth, Virginia sixth, Ohio State seventh, Penn State eighth, Texas ninth and Notre Dame 10th.
The Tar Heels’ fifth-place finish marks the 16th time in 22 years Carolina has posted the highest finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Overall, the ACC tied the Pac 12 for the most schools in the top 10 (three) and equaled the Pac 12 and SEC for the most schools in the top 20 (five).
This was UNC’s 10th finish in the top five and 18th in the top 10 in 22 years. The other ACC schools have a combined seven top five finishes and 17 top 10 finishes (as members of the ACC). The Tar Heels have finished in the top 10 in six of the last seven years.
Carolina is one of four schools nationally with at least 18 top 10s; Stanford and Florida have placed in the top 10 all 22 years, UCLA has 20 and UNC 18. No other ACC school has more than six.
“A top five finish is outstanding and when you combine that with one of our highest cumulative grade point averages by student-athletes in our school’s history, outstanding Academic Progress Rates and more than 3,000 hours of community service performed by Carolina student-athletes, you can see why Tar Heels have a lot to be proud of,” says director of athletics Bubba Cunningham. “We had 25 teams compete in NCAA post-season play and they performed at a high level throughout the year. Congratulations to our students, coaches and staff for their achievements – competitively, in the classroom and in the community.”
The Directors’ Cup measures NCAA post-season competitive success and awards points to a maximum of 10 men’s and 10 women’s programs per school.
In 2014-15, the Tar Heels had 10 sports finish in the top 10, 13 in the top 20, 16 in the top 25 and 20 in the top 50. Women’s lacrosse scored a season-best 90 points in the Cup standings with a runner-up finish in the NCAA Tournament. Field hockey placed third, men’s lacrosse, men’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis and volleyball all finished fifth, and men’s and women’s basketball and women’s soccer were ninth. The volleyball team’s appearance in the regional championship game was the Tar Heels’ best finish ever.
Men’s cross country (12th), men’s swimming and diving (18th) and women’s swimming and diving (19th) scored in the top 20 and fencing (21st), women’s cross country (22nd) and wrestling (24th) placed in the top 25 and registered Cup points.
Women’s indoor track and field, softball, men’s golf and football also received points that counted toward UNC’s total score. Men’s indoor and outdoor track and field, women’s golf and women’s outdoor track and field placed at their respective NCAA championships, but each school is only allowed to count Cup points in 10 men’s and women’s sports.
Carolina, Virginia and Notre Dame led the ACC. Florida State (11th) and Duke (20th) joined them in the top 20. Other ACC finishes included: NC State (27th), Louisville (29th), Virginia Tech (35th), Syracuse (47th), Miami (55th), Clemson (57th), Boston College (68th), Georgia Tech (72nd), Wake Forest (90th) and Pitt (96).
2014-15 Directors’ Cup Final Standings
1. Stanford (1448)
2. UCLA (1236)
3. USC (1209)
4. Florida (1188.5)
5. North Carolina (1152)
6. Virginia (1129.5)
7. Ohio State (1087)
8. Penn State (1060.75)
9. Texas (1057.5)
10. Notre Dame (1010.25)
North Carolina’s Directors’ Cup finishes by year
2015 – 5th
2014 – 14th
2013 – 8th
2012 – 8th
2011 – 6th
2010 – 7th
2009 – 2nd
2008 – 14th
2007 – 3rd
2006 – 4th
2005 – 9th
2004 – 7th
2003 – 8th
2002 – 4th
2001 – 15th
2000 – 5th
1999 – 17th
1998 – 2nd
1997 – 2nd
1996 – 6th
1995 – 2nd
1994 – 1st
CHAPEL HILL – The University of North Carolina finished fifth in the 2014-15 Learfield Directors’ Cup, its highest finish since 2009 and UNC’s 18th top 10 finish in the 22-year history of the award.
The Tar Heels compiled 1,152 points. Stanford won the Directors’ Cup for the 21st consecutive season (Carolina won the Directors’ Cup in its inaugural season in 1994) with 1,448 points. The Cardinal held a 212-point margin over second place UCLA. Southern California was third, Florida fourth, Carolina fifth, Virginia sixth, Ohio State seventh, Penn State eighth, Texas ninth and Notre Dame 10th.
The Tar Heels’ fifth-place finish marks the 16th time in 22 years Carolina has posted the highest finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Overall, the ACC tied the Pac 12 for the most schools in the top 10 (three) and equaled the Pac 12 and SEC for the most schools in the top 20 (five).
This was UNC’s 10th finish in the top five and 18th in the top 10 in 22 years. The other ACC schools have a combined seven top five finishes and 17 top 10 finishes (as members of the ACC). The Tar Heels have finished in the top 10 in six of the last seven years.
Carolina is one of four schools nationally with at least 18 top 10s; Stanford and Florida have placed in the top 10 all 22 years, UCLA has 20 and UNC 18. No other ACC school has more than six.
“A top five finish is outstanding and when you combine that with one of our highest cumulative grade point averages by student-athletes in our school’s history, outstanding Academic Progress Rates and more than 3,000 hours of community service performed by Carolina student-athletes, you can see why Tar Heels have a lot to be proud of,” says director of athletics Bubba Cunningham. “We had 25 teams compete in NCAA post-season play and they performed at a high level throughout the year. Congratulations to our students, coaches and staff for their achievements – competitively, in the classroom and in the community.”
The Directors’ Cup measures NCAA post-season competitive success and awards points to a maximum of 10 men’s and 10 women’s programs per school.
In 2014-15, the Tar Heels had 10 sports finish in the top 10, 13 in the top 20, 16 in the top 25 and 20 in the top 50. Women’s lacrosse scored a season-best 90 points in the Cup standings with a runner-up finish in the NCAA Tournament. Field hockey placed third, men’s lacrosse, men’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis and volleyball all finished fifth, and men’s and women’s basketball and women’s soccer were ninth. The volleyball team’s appearance in the regional championship game was the Tar Heels’ best finish ever.
Men’s cross country (12th), men’s swimming and diving (18th) and women’s swimming and diving (19th) scored in the top 20 and fencing (21st), women’s cross country (22nd) and wrestling (24th) placed in the top 25 and registered Cup points.
Women’s indoor track and field, softball, men’s golf and football also received points that counted toward UNC’s total score. Men’s indoor and outdoor track and field, women’s golf and women’s outdoor track and field placed at their respective NCAA championships, but each school is only allowed to count Cup points in 10 men’s and women’s sports.
Carolina, Virginia and Notre Dame led the ACC. Florida State (11th) and Duke (20th) joined them in the top 20. Other ACC finishes included: NC State (27th), Louisville (29th), Virginia Tech (35th), Syracuse (47th), Miami (55th), Clemson (57th), Boston College (68th), Georgia Tech (72nd), Wake Forest (90th) and Pitt (96).
2014-15 Directors’ Cup Final Standings
1. Stanford (1448)
2. UCLA (1236)
3. USC (1209)
4. Florida (1188.5)
5. North Carolina (1152)
6. Virginia (1129.5)
7. Ohio State (1087)
8. Penn State (1060.75)
9. Texas (1057.5)
10. Notre Dame (1010.25)
North Carolina’s Directors’ Cup finishes by year
2015 – 5th
2014 – 14th
2013 – 8th
2012 – 8th
2011 – 6th
2010 – 7th
2009 – 2nd
2008 – 14th
2007 – 3rd
2006 – 4th
2005 – 9th
2004 – 7th
2003 – 8th
2002 – 4th
2001 – 15th
2000 – 5th
1999 – 17th
1998 – 2nd
1997 – 2nd
1996 – 6th
1995 – 2nd
1994 – 1st
