Cumberland Finishes 26th in LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup Standings

LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland University posted a strong finish in the NACDA LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings in over a decade, closing out the 2024–25 campaign ranked No. 26 nationally among NAIA programs.

The Phoenix compiled 469.50 total points across the fall, winter, and spring championship seasons. Cumberland's success was fueled by a strong spring showing and a big winter season.

Cumberland earned 50.00 points during the fall season, highlighted by a 17th place finish from women's soccer to give the Phoenix 50 points.

The winter campaign saw the Phoenix add 205.00 points, bolstered by strong performances from Wrestling, Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field, and Men's Bowling. Wrestling and Women's Indoor Track & Field tied for the most points in the winter at 64.5 each with an 11th place finish and 12th place finish, respectively. Men's Indoor Track & Field added 51 points with a 21st place finish and Men's Bowling contributed 25 points with a ninth place finish.

The spring sports yielded the most points for Cumberland leading a late charge with 214.50 points. Men's Outdoor Track & Field finished in the Top 10 in seventh place for 69 points. Women's Track & Field had the second most points posting 50.5 with a 22nd place finish at Nationals. Cumberland Baseball added 50 points with a 21st place finish. Men's Tennis finished in ninth place at nationals for 45 points.

"We're proud of the consistency and competitiveness our programs showed throughout the year," said Vice President of Athletics Ron Pavan. "Finishing 26th in the Directors' Cup is a testament to our coaches and student-athletes."

The Directors' Cup measures overall athletic success based on team finishes in national championship events. Schools are awarded points in up to 13 sports four of which must be Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's Soccer, and Women's Volleyball. The award is presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and LEARFIELD.

The University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) won the Directors' Cup for the second straight season. The Patriots finished with 1014.00 points. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) also cleared the Top 10 finishing in eighth place with 737.75 points. The Phoenix finished with the third-most points in the Mid-South Conference.

Campbellsville (Ky.) finished in 30th place at 461.00 points. Georgetown (Ky.) took 58th place with 333.00 points. Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) was 97th with 181.00 points and Bethel (Tenn.) was 136th with 86 points.

Cumberland finished in 28th place last season with 496.75 points and 25th place in 2022-23 at 522.00 points. Cumberland's highest-finish came in 2021-22 at 19th place with 515 points.

"I believe the Mid-South Conference is one of the top conferences in the country, as evidenced by the number of other institutions ranked in the LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings," Pavan added.

Cumberland will spend the summer preparing for an even stronger 2025–26 campaign, which kicks off this August.

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