• Final 2009-10 NACDA Directors' Cup Standings (.pdf)

CALIFORNIA (June 29) – Following the most successful collective post-season in school history, California University of Pennsylvania recently finished with an impressive No. 2 national ranking in the final standings of the 2009-10 Learfield Sports Directors' Cup announced the National Association of Collegiate Directors of America (NACDA).

The second-place finish is the highest by a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) school since the Directors' Cup was initiated prior to the 1995-96 academic year. The Vulcans are the only PSAC school to break into the top five of the standings and the only school to post three-straight Top 10 finishes (8th in 2007-08; 9th in 2008-09).

"We take great pride in the accomplishments of our Cal U student-athletes, both in the classroom and on the field of competition," said President Dr. Angelo Armenti, Jr. "The young men and women wearing Cal U colors who have excelled in athletic competition this past year and secured this wonderful national recognition are great role models and deserve our admiration and respect."

Cal U finished with 703.00 points during the 2009-10 season and was able to tally points in 12 sports (five men's, seven women's), as the scoring system is based on the national finishes of seven men's and seven women's sports. The Vulcans placed a total of 12 teams in post-season play with six teams finishing in the top 10 nationally. Cal U posted its best collective finish in the spring, finishing with 326.5 points after collecting 229 points in the fall and 147.5 in the winter. The Vulcan women scored 458.5 points, while the men scored 244.5 points.

The Vulcans finished third in football, fifth in women's soccer, women's tennis and volleyball, eighth in women's golf, ninth in softball, 17th in baseball and women's basketball, 19th in swimming, 29th in men's indoor track & field, 37th in men's golf and 38th in men's outdoor track & field.

“This is a tremendous accomplishment by everyone in the athletic department,” said Athletic Director Dr. Tom Pucci. “For us to rank second in the country is a direct reflection on the hard work by our coaches and student-athletes.”

The accomplishment is made even more impressive when considering only 10 years ago Cal U was among 14 schools tied for last place in the standings. However, the Vulcans moved from outside the Top 100 in 2005-06 to 56th the following year before three-consecutive Top 10 finishes.

Grand Valley State claimed its seventh-straight Directors' Cup with a total of 1021.50 points after collecting sports from the maximum 14 sports. After Cal U, Central Missouri (672.50), Minnesota State-Mankato (660.50) and St. Cloud State (643.50) rounded out the top five nationally. The PSAC also featured three other schools among the top 20 with IUP finishing at No. 13 (574.00), Kutztown at No. 16 (492.75) and Shippensburg at No. 18 (470.75).