SMU Ranked Best Overall Athletics Program In C-USA

SMU has again finished as the top-ranked Conference USA school in the final Learfield Sports Directors' Cup Division I standings, NACDA announced today.

SMU Mustang FlagCLEVELAND (SMU) - SMU has again finished as the top-ranked Conference USA school in the final Learfield Sports Directors' Cup Division I standings, NACDA announced today. With the win, SMU has been ranked as the best overall collegiate athletics program in its conference in 11 of the last 13 years.

"SMU is committed to athletics and this department-wide award validates our on-going efforts to deliver excellence in all sports," said SMU Director of Athletics Steve Orsini. "Schools try year-in and year-out to win this prestigious award just once, and for SMU to be able to claim this honor 11 times in 13 years is a tribute to all the hard-working student-athletes, coaches and support staff that we have here on the Hilltop."

The Mustangs tallied 235 total points for this season based on the showings of their football, cross country, outdoor track & field, men's and women's swimming and men's golf teams.

The Learfield Sports Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 20 sports -- 10 women's and 10 men's.


SMU, the only Division I athletic program in Dallas, Texas, sponsors 17 sports and has been ranked as the top school in its conference for 10 of the last 13 years in the Director's Cup overall athletic rankings. More information about SMU and its coaches, student-athletes and teams is available at .

# # #