CLEVELAND, Ohio – Anchored by deep runs from the men's and women's basketball teams, and a strong finish at national championships from men's wrestling, Gannon University is in 12th place among more than 300 NCAA Division II universities in the final winter season standings for the Learfield Directors' Cup.
The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics ranks the top college athletic programs each year based on schools' performance in the NCAA championships. The NACDA releases Learfield Directors' Cup standings each academic year after the fall, winter, and spring seasons. The leader after the spring season is declared the Directors' Cup champion.
Gannon compiled 195.5 Directors' Cup points during the winter season, with a total of 382.5 points through the academic year. Grand Valley State leads the standings with 817.25 points followed by Wingate (542.0) and Colorado School of Mines (511.5).
Gannon is one of two schools from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in the top 25 of the standings. The Golden Knights lead all PSAC schools in 12th, while Kutztown ranks 24th.
For a second straight season, head coach Cleve Wright led the women's basketball program to an Elite 8 appearance. The Golden Knights finished the year 28-7 and atlantic regional champions. Meanwhile, in his first year as head coach, Easton Bazzoli guided Gannon men's hoops to the atlantic regional final, winning a second consecutive PSAC title and earning a 27-7 overall record.
Meanwhile, men's wrestling continued their string of impressive seasons under Tom Boyd. GU captured two regional championships and sent nine to nationals, where Jerry Echevarria & Dorian Crosby each earned All-American status.
A year ago Gannon posted its highest finish in the Learfield Directors' Cup standings, finishing 19th. The previous best had been 39th in 2021-22.
With Director of Athletics
Lisa Goddard McGuirk at the helm, Gannon also holds down the lead after the winter sports season in the Dixon Trophy standings which grade the PSAC's all-sports champion. The Golden Knights have won the Dixon Trophy two of the last three years.
The Learfield 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 NCAA Championships.
