CLEVELAND, Ohio – Gannon University continued its rise among the nation's top Division II athletic programs, placing 11th overall in the final fall standings of the Learfield Directors' Cup. The Learfield Cup standings were released by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) today.
The Golden Knights totaled 196.00 Directors' Cup points during the fall season, matching their 11th-place finish from the 2024 fall semester and reinforcing Gannon's consistency at the national level.
The Learfield Directors' Cup evaluates institutional success by awarding points based on finishes in NCAA Championships. Standings are released following the fall, winter, and spring seasons, with the overall champion crowned at the conclusion of the academic year.
Colorado Colorado Springs leads the Division II standings with 289.50 points, followed by Wingate (283.00) and Colorado School of Mines (275.00). Anderson (S.C.) (237.50) and Grand Valley State (205.00) round out the top five nationally.
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference once again showcased its national strength, placing five institutions among the top 31 in the Division II fall rankings. Gannon led the PSAC in 11th place, followed closely by Kutztown (13th). Shippensburg (25th), West Chester (26th), and East Stroudsburg (31st) also earned fall points for the league.
Gannon's fall total was highlighted by women's volleyball and men's and women's soccer, which combined to account for the majority of the Golden Knights' scoring. The men's soccer team advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament and concluded the season ranked 11th in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25, while the women's soccer team reached the second round of the NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament and finished the year ranked No. 25 nationally.
The men's soccer program was led by Sverre Orten, who led NCAA Division II in goals with 17 and finished tied for third nationally in assists with 12 alongside teammate Enzo Rekka, highlighting Gannon's offensive firepower on the national stage.
The volleyball team was crowned back-to-back Atlantic Regional Champions, reinforcing Gannon's sustained success across championship-level programs. Gannon hosted the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional for the fourth consecutive year and secured its second straight regional title, earning the Golden Knights their eighth appearance in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.
In her first year as Director of Athletics, Meghan Morphy guided Gannon Athletics to a consecutive top-15 national finish following the fall season. The Golden Knights were also crowned Dixon Trophy champions for the 2024–25 season, claiming the PSAC's all-sports title for the third time in the last four years.
The Learfield Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between NACDA and USA Today, with points awarded based on each institution's finish in NCAA Championships across the academic year.
