Azusa Pacific Wins NAIA’s Director’s Cup In Final Year At That Level

June 15, 2012 /
San Gabriel Valley Tribune (Calif.), Steve Ramirez

http://www.sgvtribune.com/sports/ci_20862893/azusa-pacific-university-athletic-program-wins-naias-directors

Azusa Pacific University is going out in style.

The Cougars athletic program, which will compete in NCAA Division II beginning next season, made its last season in NAIA one of for the ages, winning its eighth consecutive Learfield Sports Director’s Cup as the top sports program in the NAIA.

APU, which finished second in the nation in men’s track and field and and advanced to the national tournament in softball and baseball, finished with 918 points to beat second-place Shorter College of Georgia by 62 points.

“It’s been a wonderful run the past eight years, and this past season represents that whole span of those cups,” APU athletic director Gary Pine said. “A wide variety of sports scored, and there was balance across the board. In Cougar athletics, everyone matters.”

The race for the cup awards points based on an institution’s finish in up to 12 NAIA championship sports. APU will receive the award on June 26 during the NACDA Convention in Dallas.

The Cougars’ run to the cup was aided by the women’s track team winning the national indoor title during the winter season. APU also was the only program to earn at least 300 points in all three championship seasons. The fall season included top 10 finishes in women’s cross country, women’s soccer, football, volleyball and men’s soccer.

In the winter, the women’s basketball team advanced to the quarterfinals.

The spring saw the baseball team win the Golden State Athletic Conference title before losing in the NAIA Opening Round Regional. The softball team finished second in the GSAC and went 2-1 in pool play at the National Tournament.

“The Cup has been a great measuring stick, and has created so much interest in our athletics program,” Pine said. “We’ll be forever grateful to NACDA and Learfield Sports for their idea and support of the Cup program. So many student-athletes, coaches, and administrators share in our Cup success, and I’m pleased for them that we can go out on top.”

APU was accepted into the NCAA Division II probational program this past July and will join the Division II Pacific West Conference for all sports except football. The Cougars’ football team will begin play in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.


Leave a Reply