June 29, 2009

AUSTIN, Texas -- The University of Texas finished sixth in the final 2008-09 Learfield Sports Directors' Cup Division I standings, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced Monday. NACDA, Learfield Sports and USA Today present the award annually to the best overall collegiate athletics program in the country.

Stanford University won the Cup with 1,455 points and was followed in the Top Five by North Carolina (1,184.25), Florida (1,172.75), Southern California (1,137.75) and Michigan (1,131.80). The Longhorns placed sixth with 1,105.50 points and ranked as the top team in the Big 12 Conference.

The sixth-place finish marks the eighth consecutive season Texas has placed in the Top 10 in the all-sports standings. UT has now recorded a Top-10 finish 13 times in the 16-year history of the Directors' Cup: 2nd (2001-02, 2002-03 and 2004-05), 3rd (2005-06), 4th (1995-96), 5th (2007-08), 6th (2008-09), 7th (1993-94 and 1996-97), 8th (2006-07), 9th (1999-2000) and 10th (1994-95 and 2003-04).

During the 2008-09 seasons, the Longhorns registered eight Top Five, nine Top 10 and 15 Top 25 NCAA Championship finishes.

Texas recorded Top Five NCAA performances in Men's Swimming and Diving (second), Baseball (second), Football (third in FBS scoring), Women's Volleyball (tied for third), Men's Tennis (tied for third), Women's Indoor Track and Field (fourth), Women's Swimming and Diving (fifth) and Women's Outdoor Track and Field (fifth).

The Longhorns added a Top 10 finish in Men's Indoor Track and Field (10th) and posted Top 25 finishes in Women's Soccer (tied for 17th), Men's Basketball (tied for 17th), Women's Tennis (tied for 17th), Softball (tied for 17th), Men's Outdoor Track and Field (tied for 20th) and Women's Golf (23rd).

The Longhorns also received points in the Directors' Cup standings from Men's Golf (26th) and Women's Basketball (tied for 33rd).

In addition to its success on the national level, Texas claimed six Big 12 Conference titles (Volleyball, Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving, Men's Indoor Track and Field, Women's Rowing and Baseball) and one Postseason Big 12 Championship (Baseball).

Texas in the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup Final Standings (Last Eight Years)